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— — 2
DIS COVER.
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Printed for T. Davizs, in Ruſſel-Street, Cqvents
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G. KR ARSL»T, in Ludgate- Street; J. Coo E, in
Pater - noſter-Row]; and J. WALTER; æt Charing-
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Female cupiar at your zu- pee i
Not 2d eflitute of hope, nor Les bag: fears.
4 fe imple treſpaſ—neither more To leſs ;
Four, trnant-like, ſhe ramble out of bounds;
Aud dar d to venture on poetic grounds.
The fault is deem'd high-treaſon by the men,
Thoſe tordly tyrants who uſurp the pen
Then try the vile monopoly to hide
With flattering arts, < You, ladies, have beſide
Ss many ways to conquer—ſure lis ft
< You leave to us that dangerous weapon wit J-
For women, like ſtate criminals, they think
Should be. debarr'd the uſe of pen and ink.
Our author; who diſclaims ſuch partial laws,
To ber own ſex appeals to judge ber cauſe.
be pleads old magna charta an ber fide,
That Britiſh ſubjetts by their peers be try'd.
Ladies, to you ſhe dedicates ber lays,
- Affert your right to cenſure or lo praiſe ;
Mor doubt a ſentence by ſuch lips decreed, '
Firm as the laws of Perfian or of Mede *
Boldly your will in open court declare,
And let the men diſpute it if they dare.
Our bumble ſcenes no charms of art can boaſt,
But ſimple nature, and plain ſenſe at meſt ©
Perhaps ſome character moral 100 —
Aud what is ftranger ftill—the fory's new :
No borrow'd thoughts throughout the piece are ſbeꝛvn,
But what our author writes is all ber own.
—— — — £y
*
„ * — — 2 = tf „ ao pon or - *
— — — 62 py — Nori ion —:— % —
— — 8
1
—— ——— 9
PROLOGUE.
By no fy bint, or incident ſhe tries
To bid on modeſt cheeks the. bluſh ariſe :
The looſeſt thoughts our decent ſcenes ſuggeſt;
Virtue herſelf might, barbour in her breaſt 3 ;
The ſobereſt "his may laugh, without Arcen.
But not to mirth alone we claim your ear,
Some tender ſcenes demand the melting tear .
The comic dame, her different powers to prove,
Gives you the dear variety you love -
Sometimes aſſumes her graver fiſter's art,
Borrows her form, and tries to touch the heart.
But fancy's pictures float upon the brain,
And ſhort-liv'd o'er the heart is paſſiom reigu,
Till Judgement Stamp her ſanction on the whole;
And fink thimpreſ ion deep into the foul, — ©
*
ADVERTISEMENT.
A 8 this Comedy was found to exceed the
# -*. uſual Length, ſome Paſſages have been
pmitted in the Repreſentation, which are
marked in this Edition with inverted Com-
ma's. | | Min | :
{
f
„ *
M E N.
Lord Mrbwar, Ven,
Sir AxTHony BRRAN VILLE, Mr. Garrick.
Sir HARRY FLuTTER, Mr. OBRIEN.
olonel Mepwa Son to Lord
C 12 Mr. 2
Mpwav, 5 v3 art > 4
WEE 72 \ 5-4 as * e 4141 8
e ee 4 2
Lady Mzpway, © © 5
Lady FLUTTER, Niece to ehe Porr. 7 GEE
ANTHONY, ©
Mrs. KxIGHTLY, 4 you#s pr, YaTEs,
Widow,
Mrs. PALMER.
4 Nliſs RicaLy, her Siſter. — NL
#2
L. OUISA, ow to LordY Miſs Baro.
MEDpwaY,
*
= Oo „„ K
9
1 SCOVERY.
eee
ACT L
| SCENE, A Library.
Lord M EDWAY reading at a Table.
Ener Lach MEDWAY.
LORD.
„ TOW: this, Madam ? purſue me into o my ſtudy !
Sa my ſanctuary ! 1 thought this place, at leaſt,
was to be conſidered by your Ladyſhip as inviolable.
LADY. I hope I don't interrupt you, my dear.
Lorxp. I ſhould be glad, Lady Medway, that we
remember'd our reſpective bounds ; I never intrude
at your tea-table or toilet; and I deſire my hours of
retirement may be held as ſacred by you.
LADY. I beg your pardon, my Lord, but zucdesd
you have made me ſo exceedingly unhappy by this
ſudden reſolution you have taken, in regard to mar-
rying your daughter, that I can find reſt no where.
Lon p. And ſo you are come, like the evil ſpirit,
« to take poſſeſſion of me, in order to make me as
© reſtleſs as yourſelf. I am really extremely obliged
to your Ladyſhip; but you muſt know, Ma'am, I am
* of fo ſtrange a diſpoſition, that I have an abſolute
« diſlike tothe being made uneaſy; and therefore ſhall
take it as a favour, if you will either, at once, vw
| | fully
8 8 — — —
a -
2 THE DISCOVERY.
« fully acquieſce in what I have determined, or elſe go,
and diſplay your Jn eloquence to ſome one
© better diſpoſed to fympathize with you than I am.
*Lapy. My Lord, you know your will has ever
© been a law to me; but I beg of you to conſider the
© cruelty of forcing Foung people to marry againſt
_ © theirinclinations.”
Loxp. Madam, I did not epert this idle oppo-
ſition from you, eſpecially when 0 know my motives
to this marriage.
Lapy. My Lord, you | have not yet "explained |
them to me ; I can only g gueſs at large.
Loxrp. You know I am harraſſed with debts, and
I now tell you, I don't know where to raiſe five hun-
dred pounds more, if it would fave me from perdi-
tion; and pray, let me aſk your Ladyſhip, do you
know any one beſides Sir Anthony Branville, who
will take your daughter without a fortune? for I nei-
ther am, nor probably ever ſhall be, able to give her
one.
Lavy. Bur Louifa i is ve young, my Lord ; why
| need we be ſo precipitate { ? Befides, if this match be-
tween Mrs. Knightly and your ſon ſhould take place,
it will then be in „ Four power to prone” for your
daughter.
Lord: Right « cooman 1a Mat i is, but juſt ſtarted,
and you purſue, run it down, and ſeize it at once.
have not yet 8 7 the thing to my ſon. Perhaps
he may not like the lady when I do; and 1 preſume
you will think is inclinations as proper to be con-
Jatted, as thoſe of the young lady his ſiſter.
Lady. Certainly, my Lord.
Logp. Oh no doubt on't; love- de againſt
the world! © All you ladies, in this particular, are ve-
ry ready to adhere to that chriſtian precept, of doing
© as you would be done by: and I fuppoſe, you, out
of your maternal fondnefs, would recommend it to
me to let Mis Pleaſe herfelf 3 in the choice of a huf⸗
band, as her mama did before her.
Lapv. That reproach from on, my Lord, is not
: kind
HEY DUS CO VRN 2
kind but I do not deſire you to let her pleaſe her-
ſelf in chuſing one ſhe likes, only do not force her to
take one ſhe hates. 4 ö
Loxb. Has ſhe told you that ſhe hates Sir An-
Lany. Not in expreſs words; but the repug-
— .
nance ſhe ſhews —— _ |
| Loxp. Perhaps ſhe loves Tome one elle.
Lapy, To tell you the truth, my Lord, I believe
ſhe does. - D 8
<Lorp. And ſhe has made you the confidant of
© her tender paſſion. _ / „„
LAY. I extorted ſomething like a confeſſion of
* chu fort R 1 |
Lorp. And pray who .
4
.
be the happy man ?
LADY. Young Branville, Sir Anthony's nephew,
1 is now on his travels, and is expected every day
Ome. e SEES ; : „„
Lonp. A forward little gypſey “ This is the
* curle of marrying early, to have our children tuggin
* atour purſe-ſtrings, at a time when we have as 22
a reliſn for the joys of life as they have, and ten times
a better capacity for purſuing them. — Look ee, Ma-
dam, I cannot give her a ſhilling; Sir Anthony is
ready to take her as ſhe is; and if they ſhould have
2 family, is able to provide liberally for them all.
On the contrary, if ſhe follows her own ſoft inclina-
tions, in marrying Mr. Branville, I ſuppoſe, in three
or four years, I ſhould have the pleaſure of ſeeing my-
ſelf a grand papa to two or three pretty little beggars,
who, between their mother's vanity, and their father's
poverty, may happen to continue ſo all their lives.
Lavy. But, my Lord, as Sir Anthony has ſent
his nephew abroad at his own expence, it looks as if
he meant to do ſomething handſome for him: be-
ſides, he is his uncle's heir, in caſe he ſhould die with-
out children by.marriage. -, _ |
- Lorp. And ſo you think you can keep him in a
ſtate of celibacy, by refuſing him your daughter
Oh fy, Lady Medway, I never heard you argue ſo
Ee Ld B 2 weakly,
0
| weakly. Sir Anthony is not yet paſt the prime of
life; beſides, he has owned to me that it was his be-
THE DISCOVER Y.
ing diſcarded by Mrs. Knightly, which made him re-
ſolve, at once in a ſort of pique, to marry the firſt girl
that fell in his way; birth and reputation being all the
fortune he deſired with her. A man thus circum-
ſtanced is very little likely to continue a batchelor —
No, no, I'll take 11155 in the Humour, and ſecure him
while I may.
' Lapy. Before it be too late, my Low let me
once more beſeech you to reflect on the miſery of a
married life, where on either ſide love or eſteem is
wanting. Have we not a glaring inſtance of this in
the houſe with us, in Sir Harry Flutter and his wife ?
are they not as wretched a pair as ever met in wed-
lock, perpetually quarrelling! I own, I almoſt repent
my invitation to them, and with them fairly back
Again 1n the country.
Loxp. That muſt not be. (Afde.) You have
made a very unlucky choice in your example, Ma'am;
a fooliſh boy, and a giddy girl, that know not either
7 them what they would be at. He married the wife
his mother choſe for him, to get rid of his tutor;
and ſhe took the huſband her wiſe father provided
tor her, to eſcape from a boarding-ſchool. What can
be expected from two ſuch ſimpletons? He, proud
of the authority of a huſband, exerciſes it from the
| fame principle, and with pretty much the ſame capa-
city, that children ſhew with regard to poor little ani-
mals that are in their power, in teazing and controll-
ing them; and this he thinks makes him look manly.
Lavy. So li imagine, for I have heard him fay,
he does no more than other huſbands.
Logp. She, on the other hand, fancies the prero-
gatives of a wife conſiſt in contradicting and oppoſ-
ing him; and this, I preſume, ſhe thinks is doing
like other wives : but my life for it, when they know
a little more of the world, they will be very happy.
Lapy, Never in each other, 1. am WS,” rad
ä e
. e | « Lond,
THE mIS TONER. ©
ms « Lond. And pray, Ma'am, let me aik you, what
mighty felicity have you enjoyed, in Neg: married
< to the man of your choice?
£ Lapy. That is a ſtrange queſtion, my Lord!
I never complained of my lot; but if I have not
been complerety: happy, 1 it is not owing: to any fault
of mine.
Lob. It may be mine + for aught i knowe—bur
I only mention it, to ſhew you that love is not ſuch
< an almighty deity, as to confer happineſs without
certain ingredients beſides, that I could name.
< Lapy. My Lord, where 1 ir is reciprocal, Thate
wants not much beſides.
© Lorp. Be ſure you preach that wiſe dofirine to
your daughter; it will become your prudence, and
no doubt will be extremely agreeable to her pretty
© romantic notions'—But pr'ythee let us have done
with the ſubject at once. One circumſtance more,
however, I ſhall acquaint you with; if the marriage
between Medway and this Lady ſhould be accom-
pliſhed, I have other purpoſes to appropriate her for-
tune to, than buying a huſband for your daughter—
But this 1s only in Peculationthe thing may never
happen for nothing but the laſt extremity ſhould
compel me to urge my ſon againſt his inclination.
In regard to Tous, in two words, I u be obeyed:
do me the favour to tell her as much. I ſhall ſee her
preſently, and expect ſuch an anſwer from her, as
her duty ſhall dictate,
Lavpy. My Lord, it is an unplealing taſk you
have aſſign'd me, but Iwill obey you. Exit.
Lon. ¶ Looking after ber.] That you have al-
ways done, ſo much praiſe IL will allow you——but I
am out of humour with every thing. If this boy
ſhould diflike the match, I am undone at once; and
I fear, from ſome hints I have lately received, I ſhall
find an obſtacle in the way which will not eaſily be
removed death l what a thing it is to have pover-
ty ſtaring a man in the face, and no way to keep the
* horrid. ſpecs: from laying hold on you !-—No way
; e but
6 THE DISCOVERY.
but one; it all depends on Medway's filial duty'— 2
A thouſand vexations crowd upon me together — Tis
a pretty time for a man to think of intriguing ! and
yetthe blooming beauty of that little madcap, with all_
her childiſhneſs about her, has caught ſuch hold on
me, that I muſt have her — Oh with what alacrity now
could I purſue the chace, if my thoughts were a lit-
tle more diſengaged She has been complaining to
my wife of her huſband's ill uſage of her; and he,
I ſuppoſe, will come to me preſently, to take a leſſon,
as he calls it, to enable him to uſe her worſe——he
ſhan't want my n N ie comes to re-
ceive it. | | e on
8 UE, E N .
Euter Sir Harzy FLuTTER.
Sir Hazy RY. Oh my dear Lord Pic
Loxp. Why you ſeem out of breath, Sir Harry 3
what is the matter? |
Sir Haxxy. Upon my ſoul, my Lord, I have |
been fo ſtunn'd this morning, with the din of conju-
gal interrogatories, that I am quite bated—do, let
me lounge a little on this couch of yours.
LoR D. What, I e you: were playing the
rogue laſt night.
Sir HARRY. No faith, only at the tavern. I was
at home before three o clock, and yet my wife was
ſuch an unreaſonable little devil, as to aſk me forty
- queſtions about my ſtaying out lo late.
Lon. It's the way „ Fo — I hope you
are too well acquainted with your own prerogative,
to give her any ſatisfaction on thoſe accounts.
Sir HARRY. Satisfaction! ho catch me at that,
and facrifice me — no, no- But pray now, my Lord,
how would you behave on ſuch an occaſion? for I
ſhould be very glad to find that my conduct ſquared
, with yours.
_ Forp. " Why—not nn know that 18
not my way—ir i is not many; ; beſides, it. would at
: once
1 HE DISCOV ERY, 7
once provoke, and juſtify your wife in her reſent-
ment. But there is a ſort of ſneering, ironical treat-
ment, that I never knew fail of nettling a woman to
the quick; and the beſt of it is, the thing won't bear
repetition; for let 4bem deliver your very words,
without the tone and air accompan) ing them, and
there ſhall not appear the leaſt harm in them.
Sir HaxRTY. Ay that, that's the ſecret | want to
come at; that's the true art of tormenting, and what
of all the talents your Lordſhip poſſeſſes, I envy you
for the moſt Heavens, how I have ſeen my Lady
ſwell, and tears ſtart into her eyes, when, devil take
me if | thought you were not in perfect good humour
all the while—Now I am rather petulant, flaſh, flaſh,
flaſh, as quick as lightning, till | put my-/ef into a
confounded: paſſion, when I only meant to vex her—
Though I think * was. rather i n this
morning. I raft. ig
Lond. How was in, let's bent! Port 2
Sir HARRY. Why. I came Ren at three o' clock; =
as I told you, a little tipſcy too, by the bye; bur
what was that to her, you know; for I am always
humoured in my.cups? To bed I crept, as
ftly as a mouſe, for I had no more thoughts of
quarrelling with her then, than I have now with your
| Lordſhip——La, fays ſhe, with a great heavy ſigh,
it is a ſad thing that one mult be Giſturbed J in this
manner; and on ſhe went, mutter, mutter, mutter,
for a quarter of an hour; I all the while lying as quiet
as a lamb, without making her a word of anſwer ; at
laſt, quite tired of her perpetual buzzing in my ear,
Pr'ythee be quiet, Mrs. \ Waſp, ſays I, and let me
fleep (I was not thoroughly awake when I ſpoke).
Do fo, Mr. Drone, grumbled ſhe, and gave a great
flounce. I ſaid no more, for in two minutes I was
as faſt as a top. Juſt now, when I came down to
_ breakfaſt, ſhe was ſeated at the tea-table all alone,
and looked ſo neat, and ſo cool, and fo pretty, that
e' gad, not thinking of what had paſſed, I was going
to give her a kiſs; when up ſhe toſs'd her 1
ittle
6
8 THE DISCOV ER
little face, You were a pretty fellow laſt night, Sir
Harry, fays ſhe. - So I am every night, I hope,
Ma'am, fays I, making her a low bow. N not
that ſomething 1 in your manner, my Lord: + it's
Loxp. Oh very well, very well- a
Sir HARRY. Pray where were you till that un-
conſcionable hour, ſays ſne? At the tavern drink
ing, fays I, very civilly. And who was with you,
Sir? Oh, thought I, I'll match you for your en-
quiries; I nam'd your Lordſhip, and half a dozen
more wild fellows (whom, by the way J had not fo
much as ſeen), and two or three girls of the town,
added I, whiſtling, and looking another Way
Lon p. That was rather a little, OE: but a
little, too much.
Sir Harry. Down ſhe: gap her cu ot "wh
cer; If this be the caſe, Sir Harry, (half ſobbing)
I ſhall defire a ſeparate bed. That's as I pleaſe, Ma-
dam, ſticking my hand in my ſide, and looking her
full in the face. No, it ſhall be as 7 pleaſe, Sir—it
fan't, Madam; it Shall, Sir; and it ſhan't and it
thall, and it ſhall and it ſhan? t, was bandied back-
wards and forwards till we were both out of breath
with paſſion. At laſt ſhe ſaid ſomething: to provoke '
me, I don't know what it was, but I anſwered her a
little tartly. You would not have ſaid it, I believe
Fd give the world for your command af ene ene e
it ſip'd out, faith- Ee ;
Logp.: What was 5 .
Sir HARR V. Why, I faid (for vexed me
curſedly) I ſaid—faith, I think en hs on as told
her ſhe Id. 5 5
Lokp. Oh fy! 5 8 4 *
Sir HARRY. She burſt out a — 1 kick d
down the tea- table, and away ſcamper'd up to your
Lordſhip, to receive advice and conſolatioͤn.
Lon p. Why really, Sir Harry, I pity you; to be
ty'd to ſuch a little termagant is the devil; but tis
the fortune of wedlock. One thing I have always ob-
ſerved ; the more a huſband ſubmits, the more a wife
| I | tyrannizes.
THE DISCOVERY 9
izes. Twas my own caſe at firſt; but I was.
ſoon * to alter my courſe, and by exerting
_ myſelf a little, I brought Lady Medway to be as well-
behaved, I think, as any woman of quality in town.
Sir Han RY. So ſhe'is, upon my word, my Lord;
I'd change with you with all my heart, if my Lady
were a little younger. Duce'take me but I-with we
were like the Spartans; I aſſure you, if their laws
were in force here, my wife ſhould be at your ſervice,
and I dare ſay I ſhould be as welcome to yours, |
Loxp. Oh undoubtedly, Sir Harry! ©
Sir HARRY. The women would like it vaſt] —
e wife and mine I mean. | |
_Loxy. How do you know that?
Sir Harry. Why I know mine does not care fix
pence for me, and I ſuppoſe it may be pretty much
the ſame with e and with all of them for chat |
matter.
Lonv. That doesn't Reldow.=-bat how do you in-
tend to act with regard to Lady Flutter? I it. In
thus little breach will be made up like all the reſt.
Sir HARRY. Not by me, I aflure you, my Lord;
I don't intend to ſpeak, to her to-day; - and when 1
do, ſhe ſhall aſæ my pardon before I forgive her.
Loxp. Poh, that's children's play, fall out, and
then pray, pray, kiſs and be friends. No; Sir Harry
if you would ſhew yourſelf a man, and a huſband, 12
her ſee that you deſpiſe her little girliſn petulance, by
taking no farther notice of it. Now, were I in your
caſe, I I'd behave juſt as if nothing at all had happen-
ed. If ſhe pouts, ſmile; and alk her how ſhe likes
your new ſword-knot, or the point in your ruffles, or
any other idle queſtion. You know ſhe muſt give you
an anſwer. If it be a peeviſh one, laugh in her face,
take up your hat, and wiſh her a good morning; if,
on the contrary, ſhe ſpeaks with good humour, ſeem
not to hear her, but walk about the room, ' repeating
verſes. Then, as if you had not obſerved her before;
Did you ſpeak to me, Lady Flutter ? but without
waiting for her reply, ſlide out of the room, hummin
£ a tune
- A NN
2 Niere
10 THE DISCOVERY.
a tune Now all this, you ſee, were ſhe to relate it,
will not have the appearance of ill treatment; and
yet, 2 life for yours, it humbles her more than all
the bluſtering airs you could put n.
Sir HARRY. I am ſure you are right, my Lord.
The caſe is plain; but the difficulty is in executing
the thing properly, I am ſo warm in my temper. Oh
what would I give for your glorious cool ſneer of con-
tempt Il try for it poſitively ; and 'egad-I'll now
goto her and make the experiment; and fo, my Lord,
adieu for the preſent, and thanks for this leſſon.
Lob. Sir Harry! do you dine at home to-day ?
Sir Har&y. I don't know how that may be till I
have reconnoitred'; your Lordſhip, I know, does not
— and I hate to dine alone with the women.
Loxp. Oh, I ſhall certainly be at home foon after
dinner, for I ſhall long to know on what terms you
and my Lady may be by that time.
Sir HARRY. Oh heaven knows we may be at
cuffs by that time, perhaps: ; but [ſhall be in the
way ¶Erit Sir Harry.
Lot p. If he follows my e I think ſhe muſt
hate him heartily——and then 1 ſtep in as her com-
forter But I have other buſineſs to mind at preſent
o many projects on foot without a certainty of ac-
compliſhing one of them ——Z—-ns, if I had not the
e en of a Stoic, I ould beat my own brains out.
| ONE
\
SCENE I. Changes to n
Lady Mx Dwar and Louis 4. tho
_Lavy. My dear, it. afflicts me as much as it —
you; but you know your papa is abſolute; I wiſh,
therefore, you would ee to reconcile yourſelf
to Sir Anthony,
Lov. Indecd, Madam, it is impoſſible. ! If. my,
heart were ever "A much at liberty, 1 it never could en-
dure that forbidding man.
Lapv. But, child, you are too mock — by
fancy ;—tho? he is not. quite in the bloom of youth,
ub! 2 28
THE DISC OVERT. it
yet he is far from being diſagreeable. What is it
you ſo much diſlike in him?
Lov. Dear Madam! ſure the pomp and ſtrange
turn of his phraſes, and the ſolemnity of his 1 |
Is s almoſt ridiculous.
Lavy. He is rather formal, I allow you.
Lov. And then his notions of love ſo extravagant,
105 addreſs ſo romantic, nothing but flames and rap-
ture in his mouth, and, according to my brother's
account of him, he has no more real warmth than a
marble ſtatue.
_ Lavy. You find he lov'd Mrs. Kni ghtly. -
Lov. His eculiarities diverted bn Madam, and
ſhe indulged him in them—I am told he uſed to ſigh
at her feet for half a day, and if he committed the
{malleſt fault, ſhe would impoſe a pennance on him,
which Sir Anthony always received as a mark of favour.
Lavy. I am ſorry, my dear, it is not more agreea-
ble to you; for I am commiſſioned to tell you, poſi-
ovely, you muſt accept of him for a huſband. *
Lov. But, Madam, he has never ſpoken a word to
me on the ſubjecl— have ſeen him but a few times,
and—in ſhort, I can't bear him.
Lay. Shall I tell your papa what you ſay'? he,
no doubt, will be pericetly ſatisfied with this deter-
mination.
Lov. Dear Madam ! ſure you will not. Save me
from my papa's anger, you know I dare not open my
heart ro hm. You (except in your maternal tender-
_ nels) are more like a companion to me than a parent.
The authority of the mother is melted down in the
Kindneſs of the friend; my papa's ſeverity had elſe
been inſupportable.
Lapy. Louiſa, you are not to give ſo harſh a name
to your father's ſolicitude for your r happineſs. He is
not to be ſhaken in his reſolution. I have already ex-
erted my utmoſt influence over him, and that Jam
ſorry to fay is leſs, much leſs, than it ought to be.
_ —Hiſt I hear your father's voice below; he is
coming up to you. I beg, my dear, you will let
him
12 THE DISCOVERY:
him ſee by your obedience, that my interpoſition has
had its proper effect. Il give you the au
to talk to him alone.
Lovisa. Dear madam, don' t leave me—my papa
is ſo ſtern.
Lady. I go $0.99 avoid ungrateful appeals from him.
| Conſent with a good grace, Louiſa, for *tis certain
you have no choice left N an Lady.
Loviaa. En, what will become of me!
[She ſtands nahen.
6 CE N EB W.
L MEDWAY enters, flops at the door, and "I
at her, foe not obſerving bim.
Loxp. (Repeating affefiedly.)
On every hill, in every grove,
Along the margin of each ſtream,
Dear conſcious ſcenes of former love
1 mourn, and Damon is my theme.
What is your pretty tender heart ruminating upon? ?
2 Damon, I . nat you thinking of -
r. Branville ? | |
Lov. No, my Lord.
_ Lomb. I believe you don't tell ik. my Lady—
look up, girl—Ah Louiſa, Louiſa, that conſcious.
bluſh ! but tis well you have the grace to be-aſhamed.
Lov. My Lord, if I do bluſh, I am not conſcious
of any cauſe,-unleſs the fear of offending ae,
oRD, Pretty innocent all obedience too, I war-
rant. I hate hypocriſy from my very ſaul; you
know that you are a rebel in the bottom of your heart.
Speak honeſtly now, would not you run away with
Branville 47 very night, if it were in your power © .
Lox. My Lord, I—I—-, fpeak aut, miſtreſs.
Lov. If I had your permiſſion, my Lord, I own I
ſhould be —inclined to prefer him to—any other.
Lox. Thou prevaricating monkey —diſſemblers
too from the very egg. And without my permiſſion,
miſs ; what anſwer does your modeſty and filial piety
ſuggeſt — .
T HE DISCOVERY. 13
Lou. That without it, I will never marry any one.
Lonxp. I don't believe one ſyllable of that; but I
take you at your word; and now I tell you that you
never ſhall have it to marry „e Hor does your love-
ſick heart reliſh that?
Lov. My Lord, I am reſign'd to your pleafute.
[She curifies and offers to go, he bows and lets ber
walk to the door.
Lok p. Now ma'am—walk back if you pleaſe—for
I have not done with you yet. (She comes back.)
£ — Whither were you ſwimming with that ſweet lan-
guiſhing air, like an Arcadian princeſs ? -
Lou. I was going to my chamber, ny Lord, if
you had not forbid it.
Log p. Forbid ! fy, what an ungenteel word to
« uſe towards a heroine in romance! There are ſome
« {urly fathers, indeed, who take thoſe liberties with
their children, but I, who know breeding better, on-
ly intreat; and therefore, 1 ma'am, beg t Fe favour of
« your company a little longer; if a mind dignified by
the noble paſſion of love, can condeſcend to the ad-
< monitions of a parent What does the fool hang
her head for ? Sit down there—What, you are go-
ing tofaint, I hope—Oh I d—y—e! Iex-pire.— Bran-
ville take my laſt adieu—Here, Betty, ſome hartſnorn
for, the deſpairing nymph, quickly—your lady is oy |
ing for love.—So, ſo, ſa, the ſluice is let out at laſt. —
So lillies look ſurcharg'd with morning dew!
You really look very pretty when you cry, Louiſa, 1
had a mind to ſee how it would become you.
Lov. Indeed, my Lord, you are too hard upon me.
Lob. How now, miſtreſs ! how dare you ſpeak
thus ? What do you call a hardſhip ? Love makes
ſome timorous animals bold, they ſay; it makes wo-
men ſo with a vengeance.
Lov. My Lord, I beg your permiſſion to withdraw.
Lox. Stay where you are, madam. When I con-
deſcend to talk with you, methinks you ought to know,
tis your duty to attend to what I have to ſay. You
know my mind already in regard to young m_ |
Ay,
© THE DISCOVERY.
—* Ay, ſigh on—fy, fy, do thoſe glowing aſpirations
become a young lady educated as you have been?
Four mother, 1 am fure, has always ſet you a
example. I was no pattern for you to follow.” But
obſerve what I fay; 1 forbid you to think, but even
to think, of Branville. That is the firſt, and perhaps
the hardeſt part of my command. The next is, that
you reſolve immediately to accept of Sir Anthony for
your huſband. And now, mils, you may, if you pleaſe,
retire to your chamber, and, in plaintive ſtrains, ei-
ther in verſe or proſe, bemoan your hard fate; and
be ſure you complain to your waiting-woman what a
tyrant you have to your father. —Gb, get you gone.
[Ex. Louiſa.
This is the plague of having daughters; no ſooner
out of their leading-ſtrings than 1n love, forſooth.
.
| Euter Colonel Me DWAY. |
Oh George, I am glad you are come; that fooliſh gi
has ruffled me ſo, I want relief from my own thoughts.
_ _ Coronwts.. I met my ſiſter in tears I hope, my
Lord, ſhe has done nothing to diſoblige you.
Loa. Oh a mere trifle— only confeſſed a paſſion
for a fellow not worth ſixpence but what depends on
the caprice of a relation, and, like a prudent as well
as dutiful child, has ſhewn a thorough- diſlike of her
father's choice.
ColoxEL. My Lord, ſhe will conſider better fi it;
thin ſure my filter would willingly oder you in every
thing.
Lon p. To what purpoſe is a father's ſollicitude for
the welfare of his children, if a perverſe ſilly girl will
counter: act all his projects ?—You, Medway, have
ever ſhewn yourſelf an affectionate, as well as an obe-
dient ſon, to a parent who confeſſes himſelf, with
regard to you, not one of the moſt providentel wiſh
I could make you amends. _
Coroner. My Lord, the tenderneſs 70 have al-
ways ſhewn me, deferved every return I could make
you.
* + 1F we FE err Y WS
*
T HE DISCOVERY. 156
you. I wiſh for no other amends but to ſee you caly
in your mind and in your circumſtances.
Lok p. That's well ſaid! but 1 — much
from you Suppoſe, now, that it were in your pow-
er to make me eaſy in both, and at the ſame time
effectualiy: to ſerve yourſelf. ;
Coroner. I wiſh it were, bd dy buli fin
my readineſs to embrace the n am
afraid there is nothing now in my power.
Lon. Oh you are miſtaken, there are ways ad
means to retrieve all; and it was on this ſubject I
— to talk with you—There i is a certain lady of
fortune, ſon— What l droop 18 the very mention of
her? that's an illomen.
Col ox EL. My Lord, I . my fortune: never car
be mended by thoſe means.
Lon p. No! Suppoſe the widow 1 wich a
real eſtate of three thouſand a year, and a perſonal one
of fifty thouſand pounds, ſnbuld have taken a fancy i
you, would not that be a means?—You bluſh;
haps you are already acquainted with the lady's 2 wh
CoLoweri.: My Lord, Iam glad to ſee youto pleafant.
Lok. Iam ferious, I affure you—Why 1 is there
any thing ſo extraordinary in a woman's falling in love
with a handſome young fello )-?
ColLOoN EL. My Lord, if the Lady has really done
me that honour, tis more than b deſerve ; 3 for 1 never
made the leaſt advyances.
Lonxp. Well; but how do you like hog "op
Col ox RE. She is genteel, 1 think —1 n never
examined her feature.
Lond. That's range! Why you viſit her fome-
times I find.
Cor ov EI. I go to her dae, my Lord but * tis
ber younger ſiſter whom I viſit.
Lond. Humph What ſort of a damſal i is ſhe?”
- Coronti,. A moſt angelic creature.
Lond. Ay |! then ir feems: you have examined boy
features?
Colour. My Lord, 1 were known het long.
is
fig — 3 N n — — nne Nr Fig _ nen 2 -
— > TE TE SENS —
16 THE DISCOVERY:
Miſs Richly, who as well as her ſiſter was born abroad,
was fent hither ſome years ſince for her education,
and I became acquainted with her in the houſe of a
friend of mine with whom ſhe lived. Mrs. Knightly,
who had married an Engliſh merchant, was then ſet-
tled at Liſbon, and knew but little of her ſiſter, till
lately; when, having loſt her huſband, ſhe came to
England, and took the young Lady undler her own care.
Log. So.! I perceive you know their hiſtory.
| Coronzr. I do, my Lord. Poor Miſs Richly's
part of it is a melancholy one; for her father was ſo
partial to his eldeſt daughter, that he left her by much
the greateſt portion of his eſtate; and what the young -
eſt had to her ſhare, ſhe had the misfortune to loſe,
by the breaking of a merchant, in whoſe hands her
money lay. |
Loxp. You are better informed than 1 amn; I find
well, but what do you think of Mrs. Knightly?
Coloxxr. Think, my Lord! I really don't know
what to think. The Lady is very deſerving, but—
Lonp. But! oh thoſe. Soda # Buts | Am I to be
| butted by you all, one after the other? There's your
mother firit, to be ſure ſhe is very ready to acquieſcte
in every thing that J approve, but ſhe thinks it hard a
young creature ſhould have any force put on her incli-
nations, though it be for her own good Then Miſs
Louiſa—ſhe is all obedience and ſubmiſſion ut,
alas Ihe has given away her heart already And you,
vou too arè perfectly diſpoſed to oblige me; but you
will chuſe for yourſelf, J preſume, — —
CoLoN EL. My Lord, you really diſtreſs me, by en-
tertaining the leaſt doubt of that reverence J ever
have borne towards you, and ever will bear; but in a
caſe like this (pardon me, my Lord, ) I cannot at once
ive up all that I have now left, or can claim a right
in the diſpoſal of, my honour and my love —1 own I
love Miſs Richly, have loved her lon 52 and if virtue,
rv
beauty, and unaffected i innocence, deſerve a heart, my
had ſtopped there bu. Lon.
Lord, ſhe has a claim to mine, and 1s, I confeſs, 4 |
© tire miſtreſs of it; yet J wiſh the evil (lince it is one)
——
e
1 g1acovent 7
Fro. But what? |
_ Coronzr, My Lord; ſhe loves me too.
Lon p. I am ſorry f for it——Oh, ſon, ſon, a pretty
face will not redeem our acres. |
CoLontrL. I never till now lamented her want of
fortune, which I knew indeed from the beginning;
bur ſtill hoped that I might one day be in a condi-
tion to ſupport her, as her own merit, and my rank
required. I even flattered myſelf that I ſhould ob-
tain your conſent; _
Loxp. What! to marry a beggar; Medway?”
. Corlontr. I beg, my Lord, you will not uſe
harſh a word. She is worthy of higher; much higher
dignity, than ever I could raiſe her to What is a ti-
tle, my Lord; ſtripped as I am of every thing beſides?
Loxp. That reproach is ungenerous, Medway';
but J have deſerved it.
Colox EL. e me, my Lord, 1 meant it not
as ſuch.
Lon p. If you had; I could forgive i but we will
ny no more on the ſubject. I will not urge you on
ſo tender a point. |
CoLonzL:- My Lord, I thank you.
Log: Anſwer me but one 3 Are you un-
der a promiſe to marry Miſs Richly ?
Cotox EL. No, my Lord, her generoſity would not
ſaffer her tolet me bind myſelf by any other tie than
that of inclination, as I inſiſted on her being free.
Logp. That's well—Then I do not ſee how your
honcur is ſo much concerned; as for your love, when
was of your age, Medway, I had ſo many loves, that it
was hard to tell which of them had the beſt claim.
Colox RL. My Lord, you were fo kind as to pro-
miſe you would inſiſt no farther on the ſubject.
Lon p., Well, well, I have done—Tll detain you no
longer. Some buſineſs calls me out at t preſent ; I ſhall
ſee you in the 77 HB
Coroxzr. My Lord, Þ'11 attend you. {Bows and ev.
Lord. The firmneſs of this young man's virtue
awes me. I know i in point of intereſt with regard to
| himſelf 7
4
ae > 5 ment) —————— l. — n = i:
2 — E I a oo a. : ©. - 4
— — — — 2 „ we = - ys £ m wor,
S243. 2a oy nn a
— PR a 4 2 =
£8 THE DISCOVERY.
himſelf at leaſt, it will be impoſlible to prevail on him
to think of this marriage—and the obligations he has
already laid me under, will not ſuffer me to make, on
my 9wn account, ſo ſevere a trial of the tenderneſs
- and generolity of his heart—Let } it g05 III think no
more of it. 3 1 Exit.
eee eee
AWH. 0
SCENE: I. Dreſing-room. |
ret FLUTTER, as juſt dreſſed, a ſervant attending:
irs '1:58ir HARRY.
Is; your Lady come in, can you tell?
Sxkv. My Lady did not go out at all, Sir. :
Sir HaxRY. Not at all! Wuy I underſtood ſhe
dined abroad. |
SERV. No, Sir, 1 beiten he only . Mrs.
Betty to ſay ſo for an excuſe, becauſe ſhe had no mind
to come down to dinner.
Sir HARRY. Was that all hen do you ſtep to
her, and tell her I deſire to ſpeak with her On very
particular buſineſs tell her. ¶ Exit Servant.] Now to
put my leſſon in practice If I can but hit on the
manner I'll pretend not to ſee her at firſt—Bur if ſhe
ſhould not come now *egad, that would diſconcert
the whole plan— Ves, faith, here ſhe is; her curioſi-
ty, nothing elſe I am ſure, has brought her.
Enter Lady Flur ER, with knotting in her band.
Lady Frur. 55 5 T What do you want with me,
Sir Harry?
Sir HaxRv. Iwant with you, Lady Flutter! Inever
wanted any chin with you in my life, that I know of.
Lady Flur. Why didn't you fend for me this mi.
nute, and ſay you had particular buſineſs ? I ſhould
not have been ſo ready to come elſe, I aſſure you. |
Sir HAR RV, (ode). Egad, I believe T am wrong at
ſetting out; it ſhould have all been done as if by chance.
What ſhall 1 ſay to her now! How do you like this ſuit
of cloaths, my dear? Don't you think it very elegant?
Lady PLOT Was that all the buſineſs you had
—— —— —
—_—_— e [ She offers 10 go:
THE DBISCOV BRY up
Sir HARRY. Maa, I inſiſt on your not going till
you anſwer my queſtion; juſt how you pleaſe now, ci-
villy oruncivilly; Iam prepared for either I can tell you.
Lady FLur. And fo, Sir Harry, I ſuppoſe you
think, with thoſe airs, to carry off your e to
me this morning, do you?
Sir Ha k. Ye gods, ye gave to me à Ae
Out of your grace and favour— -
ſuch treatment, to be drawn off and on like your glove.
Sir Hazy. Are you ſpeaking to me, Ma'am ?
Lady FLuT. To whom elſe ſhould I ſpeak ?
Sir Harv. I proteſt I did not know you were in
* room, child.
Lady Fur. Oh ridiculous affectation
I'll aſſure you.
Sir HARRY, (aſide). Oh now it begins to nn *
I can but keep cool.
| But if your providence divine
For greater bliſs deſign her,
To obey your will, at any time
Ils am ready to reſign her.
Lady Fur. Abſurd |!
Sir Har. (going up cloſe to Her). To reſign her, te
reſign her. ;
Lady Flur. (puſhing him from boy 4, Stupid !
Sir HARRY. Ay, Madam!
Lady Fur. Ay, indeed, Sir.
Child !
*
Sir Harry. Retire to your chamber, Madam,
directly, inſtantly ; and let me inform you, once for
all, that you are not to take the liberty of coming into
my dreſſing- room 4A man's ferious hours are not
to be broke in upon by female 1mpertinence,
Lady Fur. A man's? Ha, ha, ha
Sir HARRY. Thoſe flippant airs don't become you
in the leaſt, Ma'am; but I don't think a filly girl
worth my ſerious reſentment Retire with your
trumpery work l chuſe to be alone.
J ady FLur. Then I'll ſtay to vex you.
2
Sir
[He walks aber.
Lady Frur. But I can tell you, Sir, I won't bear
*
1
p = l a * 2 : *
Nr
N
20 THE DISCO RN
Sir HARRY. Then, Ma'am, I muſt teach you the
obedience that is due to the commands of a huſband. .
Lady Flur. A huſband ! Oh gracious, defend me
from ſuch a huſband—A battledore and ſhittlecock
would be fitter for you than a wife, I fancy. |
Sir HARRY. And let me tell your pertneſs, a doll
would be properer for you than a huſband—there's
for you, Miſs.
LadyFLurt. You'll be a boy all your life, Sir Harry.
Sir Harry. And you'll be a fool all your lite,
Lady Snap. |
Lady FLvur. 1 ſhall be the fitter company for you
then.
Sir HARRY. Tchou, tchou, tchou. [ Feering ber.
Lady Flur. You are vaſtly polite, Sir Did you
ever ſee Lord Medway behave thus to his Lady ?
Sir Hazry. And did you ever ſee lady Medway
behave thus to her Lord, if you go to that? Rat me
but a man had better be a galley-ſlave, than married
to a ſimpleton that ought to be ſewing her ſampler.
Lady Frvur. And I'll ſwear a woman had better be
a ballad-ſinger, than joined to a Jack-a-dandy, that
ought to have a ſatchel at his back.
Sir HARRY. Devil take me but I have a good mind
to break every bit of the china you bought this morning.
Lady FLuT. Do, do, do, and make taws of them to
play with. |
Sir Harry. A provoking, im ertinent little
Lady FLuT. How dare you call me names, Sir? I
won't be called names, PII tell my papa of this, ſol.
Will.
Sir HARRY. Pretty baby, laugh and cry
Enter Lord ME DwWAv.
For ſhame, wipe your eyes, don't let him ſee y you chus
[ Afide to Lady Flulter.
Lady Flur. 1 don't care who ſees me; I'll bear
it no longer. I'Il write to my papa to ſend for me
PIl go to my uncle Branville's this very night.
Loxp. Lady Flutter! I am ſorry to ſee you in tears,
0G I did not oy you had been at home—Sir
Harry,
THE DISCOVERY. 24
Harry, I aſk your pardon, perhaps I intrude——no
| e news, I hope.
Sir N News! no no, there is nothing New
in the caſe, I aſſure you, my Lord.
| Lorp, Then, Sir Harry, I am afraid you are in
fan here.
Lady Frpr. (obbing ). Indeed, my Lord, he i is ab
ways in fault.
4 Sir HARRY. If your Lordſhip will take ber word
or it. Fs
| Lox. I ſhould be glad to mediate between you,
but I really don't know how, unleſs I were informed
of your cauſe of quarrel.
Sir HARRY. I'Il tell you, my Lord
Lady Frur. No, I'll Tell him, Sir
Sir Harry. Lookyee there now.
Lady Fur. He ſent for me, my Lord
Sir HARRY. Not I, indeed, my Lord.
Lady FLur. I ſay you did, Sir Harry, on purpoſe
to teize me, and talk nonſenſe to me
Lok p. Oh fy, , Sir Harry, could you find no better
entertainment for your Lady, than talking nonſenſe?
— This is a ſad account. | [ Afede to him.
Sir Harry. Faith, my Lord, a man muſt unbend
ſometimes, and indulge i in a little foolery—Life would
be tedious elſe.
Lady FL ur. And there he went on, repeating filly
yerſes, to ſhew he wanted to get rid of me.
Sir Harry. Mere raillery, my Lord; but ſhe does
not underſtand it.
Lady Frvr. Iſhould not have minded clint ſo much
neither, for I could be even with him in his gibing
airs, if he had not at laſt called me names, downright
abuſive names, my Lord: But I'll put an end to it
at once. [She goes to the glaſs drying her eyes.
Lon p. All wrong—all wrong was this the advice
I gave you? [4/4 de to Sir Harry.
Sir HARRY. My Lord, yan can't imagine how.
-provoking ſhe was.
Lady FLur. I dare fay, my papa will be very
ready to _ me home again.
2 THE DISCOVERY.
Lon». This muſt not be; yet don't you conde-
| bend to deſire her ftay, PI try to perſuade her..
[Afi ar to Sir Harr .
Sir Hazy. Ough ſhe's a vixen!”
Lach Fluren rings a bell,
Lebe Pl eſtabliſh your empire, Fil engage, if yoh ©
will give me the opportunity of talking with her:
[ Afide to Sir Harry.
Sir Harry. Faith I wiſh you. ed for I am al-
Enter a Servant.
I Lady Fur. Are my chairmen in the way?
Serv. I'Il ſee, Madam.
Lady Flur. If they are, order chem to get „
[Exit Servant,
Loxd. Going a viſiting ſo ſoon, Lady Flutter ?
Lady Flur. Only to my uncle Bragyitle S, my
Lord; it is proper to acquaint him with my deſign.
Lon p. Make ſome excuſe quickly to leave us, or
all will be over. { Alde to Sir Harry.
Sir HR Rv. Iwill you ſhall ſee—Bleſs me! Well,
I am ſure-· / the moſt K 2 fellow breathing.
[Sir Harry takes cut bis pocket-beok, and turns over the
leaves.] My Lord, can you forgive my rudeneſs now,
if Irun away from you? 1 mult ſhew you the nature
of my engagement tho”, - and that, I hope, will be
ſome apology—Wedneſday, half an hour after five—
you ſee—it's almoſt that already— _ |
Loxp. Humph!
Sir HARRT. Perhaps I mayn't ſtay long—I am
very ſorry to leave your Lordſhip alone tho'; but
you'll forgive me. LE EL without looking at Lady F.
moſt tired of the ſtruggle. ds LA de to Lord M.
- a 28.15 E: lone were well if you were
oing to das good om as that in which you
=_ ls 0. [Half fide.
Lady Frur. (turning about ): What does your
Lordſhip ſay?
Lox. Nothing, Ma' am, but chat I can TIBOR Sir
Harry's going, as he leaves me in ſuch good. g.
Lady Pan Oh, my Lord, I am no- body in Sir
b . 8
love him well enough
r
*
8 * ” .
* AC
THE DISCOVERY. 23
Harry's opinion; but indeed, at preſent, I ſhould be
but a very dull companion to any one; fo I am ſure
your Lordſhip will excuſe me if I take my leave.
Lon p. A quarter of an hour, I hope, Nr will
not bab f in too much upon your time.
Enter à Servant.
SERV. 157 maſter is gone out in your hal, Ma-
dam; he ſaid you might take the chariot will your
Ladyſbip 1 to have it ordered?
Lady Flur. Gone out in my chair! See there my
Lord! dd you ever know the like? I won't have the
chariot call me a hackney chair. [Exit Serv. ] Pray,
my Lord, where is he gone ? I ſaw he ſhewed you his
memorandum. 5
Lok p. Gone! on DUndell, I Wink of ſome kind,
Lady Fl pr. Buſihefs ! I don't know of any buſineſs
that he has 1 am ſure it is ſome other Vc uo th
Logp.” Oh—what am 1 thinking of? 'us to the
play.
Lady Flur. The play! he could not have been
in ſuch a hurry for that, tis too early.
'Logp. He was to go with a party, anfl to call on
ſome Pope by the way; that was the caſe.
Lady Flur. I don't much care; but I am ſure
that was not the thing neither; for I heard you fay,
it were well if he were going, to half as 8004 compa-
ny, as that in Which he left you.
Lok p. And that 1 ſhould certainly "boy, Ma'am,
let him be going to whom be would, But Sir Harry
has a depraved taſte.
Lady Fur. I don't doubt but he! is going to ſome
of his tavern-ladies. With all my heart; I don t
& jealous of him.
Loxy I wiſh you did, For that would help on my
work. | AlAde.] Why, indeed,” my dear Lady Flutter,
1 can't fay that Sir Harry is quite ſo deſerving of you,
as Icould with he were. But he is a mere oy, and
can't be ſuppoſed to be ſo ſenfible of your merit, 25
thoſe are, who have had a little more e in
the ſex. N
*
3
* \ a 285
enn BIS oV BUY
Lady FLur. 1 ſhan' t be long with him, that's s ons :
comfort. |
„ But, my gear ma- unn, confitter how OF ;
will appear in the eyes of the world: Here you are
but a little while married, what muſt people think
of a ſeparation? Your good underſtanding is un-
queſtioned, your perſonal accompliſhments admired —_M-
by all who know you; the blame then N all fall
on poor Sir Harry. ONT
Lady Flur. And ſo let it for me. FP 30 1
Loxp. He deſerves it, 1 confeſs; by ma' am; |
ive me leave to reaſon with you a little now; for I
4 5 you are a woman of ſenſe, and capable of re-
ſoning. Don't you think a /zetle ſtroke of cenſure
may poſſibly glance on you, for not endeavouring to ñ⁵³⁶ü¶
bear, for a while longer at leaſt, with his indiſcreti-
on; for every- body knows that your prudence is much
ſuperior to his, and therefore more will be vor
from you.
Lady Flur. My Lord, you compliment. now.
Loxd. Upon my life 1 don't, I ain ſure I have
ſaid ãt a thouſand times, that I don't know a woman
of faſhion in town (a handſome one I mean, you are
to take that into the account (990) with half your
talents. :
Lady Flur. Oh, my Lord.
Loxp. Upon my word I am ſerious; and be-
tween ourſelves, Sir Harry is thought to be but of
very moderate parts, and that it was almoſt a facri-
fice to marry you to him But I would not ſay
this for the world to any one but you.
Lady Flur. That is very good of you, my Lord.
„Lol. Your diſcretion, I am ſure, will make a
proper uſe of the hint. There are great allowances
to be made for a raw young fellow, who, like ſome
vain and ignorant virtuoſo, is poſſeſſed of a rarity, of
which he neither underſtands the nature, nor knows
the value. Oh, Lady Flutter, a beautiful and ac-
compliſhed woman is a gem fit only 2 the cabinet
& a man of ſenſe and rare," 5
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THE: bis COVERY. 23
re 15 227105 Kuter a Servant.
Ses Rv. Madam, the chair is 8
Lady Frvr. Let it wait a while.
Lon b. Another ſip of that ſweet de fattery,
and. all the rougher paſſions will ſubſide. [ Aſlide.
Lady Frvr. What were you ſaying, my Lord! ?
Logo. I believe I was 1 or at leaſt Iv was
thinking, that you are—../
Lady Flur. What, n. Mitte |
Lok. A charming woman—taking you all roge-
: cha
Lady FLur. Poh! fiddle, faddle=—.;
pn Indeed you are!
Lady FLur. Well, that is nothing to the 3
What Could you adviſe me to do with this fooliſh boy;
for L would not have my diſcretion called in queſtion
neither? Jam ſure if he had but the ſenſe to talk to
me as you have done, þ he ARTIE do Juſt what he p
ed with me. : |
Loxy. Amiable creature well, what-over you
do, don't think of parting from him, for that would
only be making mirth for all the ſpiteful old maids
in town; who have already propheſied,” that miſs
and maſter would, quarrel betore a month was-at an
end, and each run home crying to their ſeveral mama's.
Lady Flur. Do the ae creatures ſay ſo!
Well, LII diſappoint them in that ut what can I 2
pay Lord, he is ſo intolerably conceitedand pert. -
Logp,- Oh don't mind him, and it will wear off by
degrees! But, my dear Lady Flutter, are there not
3 1 with which a fine woman could make
herſelf amends, for the ill humour of her huſband?. :
Lady Flur. Not 1 know of, _=_ Lord—
Lr] 0 Fer
Logo. I a name you fome, if you would give
me leave
Lady Frur. . my leave, a my
Lord My ſtars, what a charmi thing good ſenſe
and good nature is! Your-converſation Has, I don't
know Soo ſoothed me ſo, _— tho? I: am not p.
Pf
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6 THE: DISCOVERY. © :
55 yet I don't find eee much out of l as
was a while * |
Lokp. Oh that Sir Harry and I could Aug; fitha-
tions, then would the peer e. woman in England
the happieſt. a He kiſſes des n
Lady Frur. Lard! g my Lied; 2 8 n for?
Enter a — 61 7
" SERV. Sir hoy ere madam, comes to
wait on your Ladyſhip.
Lady Frvr. Oh 1 am glad of chat—ſhew kit ap.
Lokp. So am not I. Alle.
Lady FLur. You know, my Lord, it will ſave me
the — of going to his houſe this evening.” ©
--Loxp. Let me beg of you, my dear Lady Flut-
ter, not to mention to your uncle any thing that has.
paſſed between you and Sir Harry. Ell give you many
good reaſons for it another time. Have 7 kl woe
influence over you? 8
Lady Fl ur. Well, my Lord, t to oblige you, I wory't.
Loa Sweet condeſcending creature! - - |
Lady Fr ur. But __ muſt tell me what you pro- Z
Lox. Not now, my He's ma 'am—Some other
_ oppcx.unity I will tell you ſuch things —
Enter Sir ANTHONY BRANVILLE.
He bows very low to both, without ſpeaking.
Lady Flur. Uncle, your ſervant. a ee
Lon. Sir Anthony, your moſt obedient.
Sir AnTa.: My Lord (without a compliment) J eſ-
teem myſelf extremely happy, in the agreeable hope, |
| we I now fee your Lordſhip in perfect health.
* e I thank you, good: Sir Anthony, pretty
well. (Heavens! what a nme to aſt a man
| how he does; 1 ah Ade.
Sir Ax EH. And you, niece, Iaflure you, . ve
ry proper proportion (as undoubtedly your merit
clauns) of —— eſteem and good withes; as
likewiſe hath my worthy nephew, Sir Harry; whom
I r have bern proud to have found in this good
8 compa-
THE DISCOVERY. 27
company, and deem both myſelf and him unfortu-
nate in his being abſent from it.
Lady F LUT. Sir Harry doesn't chink fo, I bebeve.
[ Half Afide.
„„ Kale.
Sir AnTa. What does my niece Flutter ſay?
Lady Flur. Nothing, uncle.
Sir Ax TH. Pardon me; 1 apprehended you had |
uttered ſomething. Well, my Lord, I am next to en-
quire (tho', to ſay the truth, I ought, in point of good
breeding, to have done it firſt); I am next, I ſay, to
_ enquire how your excellent Lady does, and the fair
young Lady your daughter.
; Lox. Both at your ſervice, Sir Anthony.
Sir Ax TH. May I preſume to aſk the chriſtian name
of the young Lady.
Lon p. I would not have Lady Medway | hear you
make ſo 75 hatical a diſtinction, Sir Anthony; la-
dies you know are always you
Sir AxrRH. Tis a privilege [Loop they claim, my
Lord, and 1 hope you don't think me capable of ſuch
barbariſm as to diſpute 1 it with them; but at the ſame
time I imagine tis not poſſible in nature, but that
the mother muſt be rather older than her daughter
You'll excuſe my pleaſantry.
Lon p. Oh ſurely, as the ladies are n't by But
why do you enquire my daughter's name, Sir Anthony?
Sir Ax TH. Why, my Lord, there is a pretty fa- mi-
liar tenderneſs in ſometimes uſing the chriC4;-fn name,
that is truly delightful to a lover; for ſuch, my Lord,
with all due 3 to the Lady's high deſerts, I
with myſelf to be conſidered.
Lady Fur. Oh Lord, Oh Lord, my uncle Miſs
Medway's lover! I ſhall burſt if I ſtay— [ Afade.
Long. : Louiſa, Sir Anthony, is her chriſtian's
name, which you are at liberty to uſe with as much
familiar tenderneſs as you pleaſe.
Sir AnTa. My Lord, I have a moſt ds ſenſe of
the very great honour your Lordſhip does me; and
TI can aſſure you my heart, Cee! if I can with cer-
tainty
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28 THE DISCOVERY.
rainty venture to pronounce about. any mung which.
s in its own nature ſo uncertain— .
Lady Frur. Oh now he has got into his paren-
theſis— „ A..
Sir Ax TH. My 3 I fay, 1 endedvouring to
reaſſume that liberty, of which it has ſo long been de-
prived, for no other purpoſe, than that of offering it-
ſelf a willing captive again to the fair Louiſa's charms.
Lady Fur. Very well, uncle; I fee this viſit was
not all intended for me; 1 find you have: ſomething
to ſay to my Lord, fo I won't interrupt you.
Sir AnTH. No, no, no, niece Flutter; upon my
reputation, this viſit was meant wholly for you, as 1
could not poſſibly divine that I ſhould have found
his Lordſhip with you; to whom I intended to have
paid my reſpects Kaen and apart.
Lokp. Lady Flutter |!
We turn you out of your apartment Sir Anthony,
will you do me the favour t) ſtep into my ſtudy?
Lady Flur. No, no, indeed you ſhan't ſtir; Pu g0
and ſee what the ladies are doing; I fancy they think
I am loſt. [ Exit Lady Flutter.
LoxD. Sir Anthony, I aſſure you I ſhould think
myſelf very yy" in an alliance with a gentleman of
your worth.
Sir AxTH. My Lord, you do me honour. _
Lox. I have mentioned you to my daughter— *
Sir AxrH. Mentioned me, Lord!
Lok p. Wou'dn't you have had it ſo, Sir Anthony?
Sir Axrn. My Lord, the profound reſpect I have
for your Lordſhip makes me unwilling to animadvert
on ſuch proceedings, as you in your wiſdom (which 1
take to be very great) have thought expedient; but
! am a man, my Lord, who love method.
Lox. Sir Anthony, 1 imagined it would have been
agreeable to you, or it ſhould have been very far— _
Sir Ax TH. Conceive me right, Lord Medway ; *tis-
perfectly agreeable to me, and conſonant to my
wiſhes, to be looked on with a favourable eye by the
virtuous young Lady your daughter; but, my Lord,
to
aſk a thouſand pardons—
Y Yang) Ma ds eds hw
T HE DISCOVERY. 29
to tell you ſincerely (and ſi incerity, my Lord, 1 hold |
to be a virtue) my heart i is at preſent! in a fluctuating
ſtate. |
Loxv. I am” yr Wen Sir, that the thing has
been mentioned at all. I underſtood you were deter-
mined. (What can the blockhead mean ? ¶ Afide.
Sir ANTH. Good my Lord, your patience : I am de-
termined l that is to ſay, my will is determined;
but the will and the heart, your Lordſhip knows, z are
two very different things. 5
LRD. Sir Anthony, I ſhould be glad we W
ſtood each other at once. I apprehended Mrs. Knight-
es ill uſage of you had made you give up all thoughts
of her; and as you ſeemed determined to marry, and
declared yourſelf an admirer of my daughter, who
I muſt ſay (the article of fortune excepted) is, I think,
as undbjectionable a wife as you could chuſe, —
Sir AnTH. Undoubtedly, my Lord— |
Loxp. I was willing to give my conſent, and chought
you appeared as ready to embrace it.
Sir ANTH, True my Lord; and ſo I do ſtill, moſt
cordially,
Lok p. Why then, Sir, whati is your determination >
For a young woman of family and OR muſt
not be trifled with,
Sir Ax TH. My Lord, I believe trifling is a fault
| which was never yet attributed to Sir Anthony Bran-
ville My Lord, I am above the imputation - and
your Lordſhip would do well to noi; oe that I have
the misfortune to be of a warm, not to ſay or an im-
petuous diſpoſition. |
LoR p. Sir, I don't mean to provoke your wrath.
Sir AnTa. You are the father of my miſtreſs, my
Lord—that thought reſtrains my fury—But this wo-
man (Mrs. Knightly 1 mean, for a woman find ſhe
is, though I once thought her an angel) ; : ſhel ſay,
has not yet diſmiſſed me in form; and till that is done,
J think myſelf bound in honour, not to make a ten-
der of my heart, or hand, to any Lady whatſoever.
TLonp. Oh, Sir Anthony, I find you have ſtill a
han-
rr r des ow CERT at. cre
« PI ACRE IE
: —
| Madary he has but too fatally experienced.
30 THE DISCOVERY,
hankering after the widow, and only want an oppor-
tunity to endeavour at getting into her on nd
gain — Tou would faif ſee her.
Sir Ax TH. By no means, my Lord; not for the
world | for, as I told your Lordſhip, I would not
truſt my heart with ſuch an interview—No, no, I
know the witchcraft of her beauty too well.
_ Lozp. How do you mean to diſengage yourſelf then?
Sir AnTa My deſign is to indite an epiſtle to her,
andto requeſt that ſhe will under her hand, in full and
explicit terms, give me an abſolute and final releaſe
from all the vows I have made her.
Loxy. I think you are perfectly right, Sir Antho- |
ny, and act agreeably to the dictates of true honour
(I won't loſe the fool if I can help it. [ Afrae.
Sir Ax TH. I would fain do fo, my Lord.
Loox p. I dare ſay you will get a full and free diſ-
charge from your ſovereign Lady and Miſtreſs.
Sir AxrH Tis to be ſo preſum- ed, my Lord - but
as for ſeeing her, *twere ſafer, my Lord to encounter
_ a baſiliſk, I aſſure you. |
Ars. KniGHTLy ruſhes in, a — to the
door. Sir ANTHONY. farts and draws back.
Mrs. Kxic hr. My Lord, I beg your pardon;
your ſervant told me Lady Flutter was here,
Loxp. I am glad he made the miſtake, Madam, as
it has given me the honour of ſeeing you. Go tell
your Lady She was here but this minute This is
unlucky. [Aldde.
Mrs. Kxreur. 1am quite aſhamed of this, my
Lord; 1 zuſt came to prattle half an hour with Lady
Flutter, and to try if I could tempt her to the opera,
and here I have broke in upon you ſo unawares—Bleſs
me, Sir Anthony! is it you? I declare 1 did not fee
you. Why, you barbarian, where have you been
for this month paſt ? My Lord, do you know that
Sir Anthony is a lover of mine. [Sir Anthony advan-
ces, bowing gravely.
Sir AnTa. That Sir Anthony Was a lover of yours,
Mrs.
wad?
- THE DISCOVERY. zi
Mrs. Kxiour. And a' n't you ſoftill, you inconſtant |
Lorp. Take 15 advice, and make your retreat as
faſt as youcan. l Ale to Str Anthony,
Sir AN TR. Impoſſible, my Lure; the magic of her
eyes renders me immoveable—but Fll try.
* Aide to Lord Medway. |
Mrs. 1 What, I ſuppoſe my Lord is your
eonfidant; you ſee J have made him mine too.
Enter SERVANT.
Se av. The ladies are all gone out den scher my Leak
Lokp Did your lady leave Wye what time ſhe
would be at home? |
Serv. No, my Lord.
Loxp. Oh once they are on het wing, her 1 is no
knowing when they will return—1 with the would go.
Lide] Will you allow me the honour of gallanting
you to the opera, ma' am? I dare ſay Sir Anthony,
on ſuch an occaſion will excuſe my leaving him—Tis
cans the time I believe.
Mrs. KxICHT. Oh dear, my Lord! too ſoon by
[looking at her watch] an age—l am ſuch an impatient
creature, l can't endure to wait a minute for any thing,
and therefore never go to any public entertainment
till after-it begins. 1s not that the right way, Sir
Anthony? but 1 ſhould not aſk you, who are fo
phlegmatic, "Om could wait till dooms-day for any
thing.
Las; Come, ma' am, you are too ſevere ON my
friend Sir Anthony.
Sir AxTEH My Lord, this is but an + iriconkiderable
ſpecimen, a-trifle, to what I could produce, of the
N 1 have received from this ungrateful fair- one.
Enter a SERVANT.
Serv. There is a gentleman below deſires to ſpeak
| with your Lordſhip on buſineſs.
Loxp. Plleome tohim—For Heaven's ſake, ma am,
don t keep this poor lover any longer in expectation,
but diſmiſs him fairly at once, for your own honour
as s well as in * to Um. Alde to Mrs. Knightly.] Sir
An- =
32 THE DISCOVERY.
Anthony, you'll excuſe me for a few minutes. ¶ Exit.
Sir Ax rh. My Lord, I ſhall beg leave to wiſh your Z
Lordſhip a good evening—l was juſt going away.
Mrs. Knicar. Why ſure you would not be ſuch, A
clown as to leave me by myſelf, Sir Anthony ! 7 can't
go; for thinking that Lady Flutter was at home, I
tent my chair to pay two or three viſitt—Now pri-
thee fit down, and ſay ſome ſprightly thing to me:
Sir AxNTa. Ah, Madam, my iprightly {allies were
for happier days— 1749
When Flavia liſtened. to my fighs,! - T. .
And fann'd the amorous blaze, 57
That love which revell'd in my eyes
Grew wanton in her praiſe—
Mrs. Knicar. I proteſt I did not know you were
ſo good a poet.
Sir AN TA. The males, Madam, are not ſuch nig-
ria of their favours. ' I have been indulged with
ome rapturous intercourſes with thoſe, cues, I can
aſſure you.
Mrs. Knicat. Oh iy, Sir Anthony. What—cell
tales? |
Sir Ax EH. No aſperſions, Madam— tis very well
known they are all virgins.
Mrs. KxICHTr. Well, but now let's hear what you
can ſay to me in proſe.
Sir Ax R. Truly, Madam, this e e (I may
ſay unhoped for) encounter, has ſo diſconcerted me,
that though I have much to ſay, I am rn at a
loſs where to begin.
Mrs. Kn1cur. Why then don't begin at al, Sir
Anthony; for I think you are generally more at a loſs
how to make an end.
Dir Ax rn. Madam Imuſt beg the favour of being
allowed a hearing; a patient one, eden for ſuch
the nature of my caſe requires.
Mrs. KxI HT. Is it a phyſical one, or a caſe of
© conſcience, Sir Anthony ?
„Sir AxTH. Neither, Madam. L propoſe to un-
fold my mind to you in a letter
l
s.
2
THE DESCOVER Yo 46
Mrs. KxiGarT. But then if I ſhould not unfold your
G letter Sir Anthony, which is a thing might, happen,
in that caſe I ſhould DEI: know your mind, FOB;
= „Know.“
Sir Ax rh. If you won't hear me, Madam |
Mrs. KxiohT. Well, well, I will hear you; but
{queeze what you have to ſay into as ſmall a compaſs
as you can, my dear Sir Anthony. 2
Sir AnT#. The occaſion, Madam, of my giving
you this trouble (if as ſuch you are pleaſed to conſider
it) is as follows. I have courted you, Madam, that
is made honourable addreſſes to you, for the ſpace of
ſix months, during which time you gave me all the
encouragement—
Mrs. KxIORT. Encouragement FE Oh all
you powers of chaſtity defend me |—Encouragement,
Sir Anthony! Of what nature pray ?
Sir Ax rH. Your pardon, Madam. Conſiſtentiy
with modeſty I mean; or ſuch as became a virtuous
Lady to beſtow: on a paſſionate admirer for ſuch 1
pronounce myſelf to have been.
Mrs. KxIOEHT. Oh I underſtand you now—Well,
Sei a
Sir Ax rh. For a time In was favoured with yo
ſmiles, and had reaſon to believe that my faithſul 5
ſion would have been crowned with ſucceſs. When
all of a ſudden, to my unutterable aſtoniſhment, the
ſun- nine of my hopes vaniſhed. - |
Mrs. Knicar. I only, ftepp'd behind a Hou, Sir
Anthony, to play at bo-peep with you.
Sir AnTa. Oh, Madam, a total eclipſe, I doaſſure
you. Ny viſits were repulſed, my letters unanſwer-
ed, and finally your doors ſhut againſt me.
Mrs. Kn1cav. Did I do all this to poor Sir Anthony?
Sir ANTH. You did, Madam—Tyrant, you know
you did. And now, Madam, 1 Wann learn 4 2
reaſons for ſuch uſage. |
Mrs. KxTORHTr. Reaſons—I never gare . realen for
any thing I did ſince I was born. *
Sir Ar. That is rather extra- ordinary, Madam; ;
"a | F but
* *
a” ORE OST CA IRE IS os. —— VV GAGA K neren £2 MCL; x 4 Ps —
* PR — mY _ WY: —
SA VE IEEE I IL Ir Rees 4,
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3% THE DISCOVERY.
but if you will not condeſcend to give me any reaſons
for your cruelty, all 1 have left to deſire, or rather
to demand, (pardon me the expreſſion, Madam) is
now, from your own lips, to receive my final doom.
Mrs. Knieay. Why, Iſhan't! marry theſe ten years,
Sir Anthony.
Sir Ax TH. That Nadam, is an indeterminate anßwer⸗
I humbly requeſt the favour of a final one.
Mrs. Kxichr. Why, what are you in ſuch a hurry
for i ? I proteſt, Sir Anthony, I begin to grow Jealous.
Sir Ax TH. A final anſwer, Madam.
Mrs. KT HT. PII be hanged if I have not got ari-
val! Oh faithleſs man] that have ſworn I don't know
how many times over, to be true to me till death—
and J, like the reſt of my eaſy ſex, to believe you?
Sir AnTa. Madam, let me moſt humbly beſeech
Mrs. Kn1cnr. Begone, difſembler—but what could
| I expect from ſuch levity as yours—
Sir Aw rRH. Levity, Madam levity ! I abſolutely
diſavow the charge—pray, Madam—let me implore
you, for the laſt time (pray obſerve that, Madam, for
the laſt time) to grant me the favour—{[ He advances,
Gowing low, ſhe flirts from bim, and be catches hold of
ber ſleeve. |
Mrs. Knicar. Bleſs me ! Why fare, Sir Anthony,
you would not offer to kiſs mel _
Sw Ax TH. Oh heavens, madam, kiſs you! Madam,
jet me take the liberty to inform you, that ſince 1
could diſtinguiſh between virtue and vice, I never
took ſo unwarrantable a freedom wich any lady upon
the face of the earth. |
T Enter Lady Puovren.
Lady Flur. My goodneſs ! what's all this about ? 2
Mrs. Knightly, my dear, whar's the matter?
Mrs. KxIOHT. I proteſt, my dear, your uncle is ſo
very amorous, that it is not ſafe to ſta alone with him.
Sir AxxrR. Madam, I bhiſh for you z 3 *
7
THE DISCOVERY. 33
bly aſking your pardon for being ſo free as to ſay fo.
Mrs. KxIchr. Bluſh for vourſelf, Sir Anthony,
you have molt cauſe.
is all
Lady Fur. What, in the name of wonder, i
this about?
Mrs. KnicuT. Oh, Lady Flutter, I. am aſhamed
to tell you his behaviour | |
Lady Frur. My uncle's behaviour, Madam!
Sir Ax TH. Madam, I hope my niece Flutter has
too good an opinion of the propriety of my conduct
upon all occaſions, to be. prejudiced by your uncha-
ritable inſinuations. And now, Madam, I demand,
in preſence of my niece aforeſaid, that you will give
me a full and formal acquittal of all my VOWS and pro-
| axles to yOu.
© Mrs, Knrcar. I muſt take time to conſider of
. that, Sir Anthony; vows are ſerious things; I We-
poſe all yours are regiſtered in Cupid's books.
Sir AnTa. I inſiſt on wy, releaſe, Madam.
Mrs. KxIOHT. I don't know whether it be ſafe
to give you one, Sir Anthony; I muſt conſult a
C lawyer firſt.
Sir AnTa. Madam, I am ſorry to ſay, that you
< depart extremely from that pundtilious honour, as
well as generoſity of ſentiment, which is ſuch an
© ornament to the fair part of the creation] only aſk
for the favour of being diſcharged—a fayour I was
never refuſed by any lady before, I aſſure you, niece.
6 Lady FLur. That I dare fa.” [Afrde.] Well I
can? t for my life underſtand all this,
Mrs. KnicaT. Oh he's a rebel in his "FOO that's
plain, and only wants a pretence to forfeit his alle-
giance; but I won't give him that ſatisfaction.
Sir Ax H. Then, em, ſince you urge me to
ir, in one word, I here cancel all my vows ——
Mrs. Knicar. It is not in your power.
Sir ANT, Renounce your , Madam
Mrs. KxIOHT. I defy 5
Bir Aurn. And unter Achim your bens ,
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* THE DISCOVERY.
Mrs. Kyionr. Stubborn traitor!
Sir Ax TH: And: now, Madam, 1 will withdraw my
perſon and m my. heart: E
Mrs. Kxi6ar. Not your Feeney bir Anthony!
Sir AN TH. Both, both, Madam, ] do-aver it te
you; and will make an'offering of them where they
7,1
will. be more honaurably, and more gratefully enter.
rained.” And fo, Madam, J am, with proper reſpect,
your moſt obedient (though rejected) humble ſer-
vant, Niece Flutter, I have the pere of Was
you a hat evening. U
[Ext Si r Anthony, dak. both Ladies turf "
a-laughing..
Mrs. Knicnrt. [ Initating bs manner, bels aft
Him, and curtſying very low.) And I return you my very
unfeigned acknowlegements for Si a me of your
moſt Inſipid ſolemnity, my dear Sir Afithony. "ls
ha, ha, poor ſoul! to whom is he going to offer his
Platoriic adorations, do you know, my dear?
Lady Fur. Why, by what I gather'd juſt now
From the converſation betweeh my Lord and him
(for it was a ſecret to me before) I find Miſs Med-
Way is likely to e you. jt
Mrs, Knicar. Supplant me, my de ceaſe?
'why, fure you « Ss uppoſe I had ever any ſerious
thoughts of the poor man; humbly begging your
Pardon, as he” fays, for raking Xx; 4 Überty with
31D +++
your uncle., og:
"Lady FUT. 1 ſhould wonder ir you had, Town;
Tam — nothing but his fortune could have made
my Lord think of him for a ſon-in-law.”
Mrs, KnzcaT. Does Miſs Medwa' approve f the
| thing ? me i 18 a ſober fort of a girl, I think. :
Lady Flur. Oh intolerably lo; ] hardly ever con-
verſe with! her, rhough under the fame roof. She is.
for ever poring over a book or a needle — Yet I
don't ſuppoſe me likes him either; 1 Ne heard it
whiſpered that ſhe loves my coufin Branville, who, I
Þeapy | is + paged home every wer,” ning
| Mrs.
„ SE. on Wo EG
2
THE DISCOVERY. 37
+ Mrs. KxIOHT. If I thought fo, I would keep Sir
Anthony dangling this twelvemonth, out of mere
compaſſion to the poor girl. For, notwithſtanding
__ threats, I know he is ſtill devoted to me.
Lady Frur. But how would that ſquare with your
views in regard to Colonel Med ways
Mrs. KxICHT. Oh my ſweet friend, that « queſtion
has made me ſerious all at once. I can laugh at Sir
Anthony-no more; indeed I have not lately. had ſpi-
rits enough to be diverted with him, and, for that
reaſon, tried to ſhake him off, I don't know what
70 think of the Colonel. I came here this evening
on purpole to conſult you. My Lord, who, I per-
ceive, is a man of the world, _ full of - deſign,
dropped ſome hints to me about his ſon, by which I
find the thing would at leaſt be very agreeable to him;
yet the Colonel has not been near me len I win
I knew his ſentiments.
Lady Flur. I am ſure I can 't inform you. There
is none of the family very communicative, but my
Landy ** 18 the beſt of them, that is certain.
Euter Sir HaARZY Fr UTTER, |
=
J kiſs your hands.
Mrs. KxIoHT. Oh, Sir Harry, you has: miſſed
ſuch an entertainment | Here has been Sir Antho-
Sir HARRY. Well, and what did uncle Parenthe,
| fi ſay to you? |
Mrs. KNIORT. Oh 3 has abandoned me I am
doomed to wear the willow garland.
Sir HARRY. Oh, you cruel devil you, tis you Fl
| have abandoned kim, I dare ſay What, Lady Flut-
ter! Iam amazed to find you here; I thought you
had abandoned me, as Mrs. Knightly ſays, and that
by this time you had taken poſt for Oxfordſhire, in
order to tell papa, that Sir Harry was ſuch a naughty
boy, he would not give it its way in every thing.
Mrs. Knightly, when I went out this evening, ſhe
Was
Sir e Ha, Mrs. Knightly ! my .
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THE DISCOVERY
was to elope, abſolutel dent upon runnin
A her huſpand. n= 4 1
Lady Flur. And you ſee, ma am, * * return n he
makes me: for my good nature in not doing fo. 1
think, Sir Harry, after the provocation I: received
from you, if I changed my mind, yo wacht to be
very much obliged to mme.
Sir HARRY. My dear, if the 1 your mind
be n obligation, 1 own my rr aw to n on
that ſcore are innumerable.
Lady Flur. I ſuppoſe you think chat vitty, now.
Mrs. KxrHT. Pray pray, good people, am to be |
8 converſatilon ng
Sir Hanny Oh, ma'am, my Tas Haters is i
extremely quick in her repartees, that you wall find
a" very hard to put in a word, I ailure you.
Lady Frut. And Sir Harry is i cnigiaderarely
ad of hearing himſelf talk, that he does not defire-
either of us o _u hog any anne 1 allure
Ju- 24 110
Sir Huxv. Not dee Ladyſhin,: 3
Mrs. KxICHT. Well, I vow, Sir Harry, if you
were my huſband, I ſhould hate Jus "ORR 125 are
inch. 2 lizndiome TY hs 25085
Sir HARRY. Indeed you would not. Way e
Mrs. KHT. Indeed I ſhould. Ai
Sir Haz xy. Ga, you little 8 1 4441
Mrs. KxIOCHT. Get you gone, you rattlepate, 1
don't mind what you fay Come, Lady F ces
78 go with me to the opera, my dear?
Flor. With all 150 bean. Anj-where ra-
ther than ſtay at home. i
Sir Harry. Vou ſer, ma- am, het a happy. man
I am in domeſtic felieity! But here, Lady Flutter,
vou muſt give me leave to interpoſe a little of my law-
ful authority; and therefore J deſire, if it be nor too
great an honour, that you will oblige me wich r
| eren, at home this evening.
Lady Fur. Indeed J ſhant, Sir Harry
bie. Hakkr. Then, ma'am, * — you gn
ON
-
1 HE DISCOVERY: - wm
Mrs. Kn1cnT. Bleſs me, Sir Harry, you an't ſe-
ious, ſure! I am vaſtly ſorry I propoſed the thing at
all. I won't go to the opera for my part—PIl ſtay and
chat with you, if you will give me eee
pas we had a pool at piquett.
Sir Harry. By no means, ma'am. Why thould |
you deprive yourſelf of your entertainment 1 A
childiſhneſs? ll attend you to the opera m
Mrs. Kxrofrr. Indeed you ſhan't, for I won t go.
Sir HARRx. Indeed you ſhall, and PI go with you.
Mrs. KxTOHT. I vow you ſhall neither of you go,
and ſo good- by to you. - { Runs out.
Lady FLuT. So, Sir Hier, you 3 en
yourſelf prettily! !
Sir HARRY. Not in the leaſt, my dear; 1 have
ſhewn. you to advantage.
71 FLur. It is well one of us hos a little Abe
Sir HARRY. Meaning your wiſe ſelf, I preſume;
but, to ſhew you that I have a ſmall ſhare too, I
will enter into no farther diſputes with you; but leav-
ing you to your agreeable contemplations, follow my
charming Mrs. Knightly to the opera, who, I fancy,
will prefer my company to your Ladyſhip's. ¶ Exit.
Lady Frur. Very well, Sir! if Fam not even
with you for this!
Enter Lord Mrpwar, at another Dior: 1
Lon p. Alone, ma' am! (I have been detained longer
than! expected.) What is become of Mrs. Knightly
and Sir Anthony?
Lady Frur. Both gone, my Lord---My uncle
broke away in 1 reſentment, never, I think, to ſee her
more.
Loxp. So, ſo- What have you done with Lady
_ Medway and my daughter?
Lady FLux. They are at their evening eckig
1 ſuppoſe my Lord. They both came in with me, af-
ter we had made a ſhort viſit, but, according to euſ-
tom, retired to my Lady's dreſſing room.
Loxp. Oh, they read together every evening! —
But you ſeem ruffled, my dear Lady Flutter; what is
the matter? : Lady
4 THE. mn Ss
Lady Frvr. Sir Harry ð
Lonxb. What of him ? + f 22
Lady Fur. He has been here akin but fol into-
5 rude and provoking, poſitively there's no en-
during him any longer. "ould: be ſorry to leave
your ' Lordſhip? S houſe fo food; where I. have been ſo
kindly nl but I am determined not to conti-
nue under the ſame roof with Sir o
Lonp. If your departure were to be a patiiſhident
; only to Sir Harry, I ſhould not oppole it ; for I muſt
allow, that he deſerves all your reſentment. But,
my dear Lady Flutter, I could name another, whom
you would make infinitely more er by your *
ſence. |
Lady Frur. Who can that be; my Lord?
11 Suppoſe 1 were to name myſelf.
(cp FLuT. You are very obliging, my Lord, I
ture not the leaſt doubt of your friendſhip. - |
Lox. Friendſhip, my dear Ma' am, ſometimes aſ-
ſumes a tenderer name When a man entertains it
for a woman, young and charming as you are, what
ought it then to be called?
| Lady FLurT. Way ien, to be ſure hat
mould! it be elſe ?
Lokp. Shall I tell you?
Lady FLuT. No, I won't be told.
Lorp. Then you gueſs-
Lady FLur. Not I, indeed, m my Lan
Lok. *Tis love | love! is not x he a S 2
Lady Flur. Tis a found "_ which: I am very lit-
tle acquainted. _ . (Sighs,
Lon. Then let me be your tutor, to teach you a
ſcience, in which Sir Harry is not W to inſtruct
a.
4 Lady FLuT. Oh, my Lord, if T had met with you
before [ was married, and before you were men-
But it is too late now—
Loxp. You mult not ſay ſo. What are mernioge
ties, if the hearts are not joined? 'Tis that alone which
makes the union ſacred. 7 Pe 401
— * *
. ; ” 3
Mg” . Lady
1 .
OY ,
La
*
\
THE DISCOVERY. 41
Lady FLuT. That is the chief thing I grant.
Lok p. Oh it is all in all — With regard to Lady
Medway now; ſhe is a good woman, it is true, and [
efteem her as ſuch but there is no love in the caſe;
ſo that I confider myſelf - abſolutely as a ſingle man.
'Tis juſt the ſame with you; there has a ceremony in-
deed paſſed between you and Sir Harry; but he
flights you, and you very juſtly deſpiſe him: fo that,
to all intents and purpoſes; you are a ſinglè woman.
Lady Frur. Iwiſh I were, I'm fure, my Lord.
Lord. Why ſo you are, my dear Ma'am, if y you
would conſider the thing rightiy—If I thought a
wife, tho' I confeſs I love you to adoration, I would
ſooner ſtab myſelf to the heart, than endeavour to
win your affections.
Lady Fur. Indeed, my Lord, I dellive you.
Lorp. Then, ince we are equally unhappy in
| wedlock, what crime can there be in our mutual en-
deavours to conſole each other?
Lady Frur. I am ſure I don't intend any harm.
Logy: Then why will you talk of leaving me: 5
Lou know Sir Harry is too indifferent to be concern-
ed at a ſeparation; the grief, the diſappointment,
will all be mine.
Lady Flur. Indeed; my Lord, I ſhould be very +
unwilling to make you uneaſy, to whom I owe fo
many obligations.
Lozp: Then ſpeak no more of parting; [He takes
her hand.] I have a thouſand things to tell you. The
| delightful ſubject we are upon is inexhauſtible, but I
can never get Si for half an hour to myſelf.
Lady FLuT. Why no, Sir Harry is fo perpetually
whiffling backwards and forwards, one can t be alone
a minute for him.
[Lady Medway comes to the door, and ſteps back on ſeeing
Lord Lad Maney and Lady Flutter in ſuch familiar con-
ference. ]
| Loxp. I have thought of an expedietit, which, if
you will agree to, will ſecure us againſt all interrup-
Lan fer the Tarure:* e 5 EK.
Q Lady
o
41 THE D:1$CONERY:
Lady Flur. What is it?
LoRD., You know Lady Lovegrove, who far in che
box with. us at che play the other night (a very wors
thy woman.) I am fure ſhe would be glad of your
acquaintance. III introduce you, to her, and there,
vou know, When you go of an evening to drink tea,
i can meet you, and we can enjoy an hour's conver-
tation without being interrupted. 7
"Lady FLur. 1 proteſt that will do very well. Bur
we mult not let Sir Harry know a word of my ac-
uaintance with her, or may: be, ſome evening, he'll
be for thruſting himſelf in, | |
Lon p. By no means, he ſhall never be of our party.
Come, Ma'am, 1 fancy, by. this time, the ladies have
done with their ſober ſtudies e we were to 1
join them.
Lady Flur. As you will, my Lord. 5
. Loxp. Not a word more of parting, remember.
Lady FLUT. TY try what I can do to oblige your
Lordſhip. + [Exit Lord Medway, ara her out. |
Lad Mzpwavy comes out.
Lavy. Oh, Lord Medway! this is beyond what I
thought you capable of; but I will, if 5 pre-
vent The deſtruction that you have plan” Exil.
CAS er M d NAOH MO c e
A CF N.
SCE N E changes to the Widow Kntcurry' 8.
Euter Colonel Mepway and Miſs en ;
5 COLON. E L.
Would not have mentioned it at all, if I chought
you could have ſuffered it to make ſo ſerious an
impreſſion on you. |
—_— \ N es 7 —
r Cap nt wn e”T CES .
4 F ä 4 yy wn, = nA. _ b
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ln foul ec. cz
M.iſs Rich v. It ought not, 1 confeſs, knowing as 5
I do the truth and generoſity of your heart and yet | 8
I cannot help being alarmed—an immenſe fortune, P
and a fine woman, as my ſiſter really is the tempta- e
+ . | tion
2
Aus DISCOVERY. 43
aon i is ſo great that were it any one but you—
CoroxxL. Indeed, my dear Clara, * theſe fears of
yours reproach, at the ſame time that they flatter me.
Is it neceſſary that T ſhould tell you, over' and over
again, for the thouſandth time, that I never can love
any woman 2 , , .
Miſs Rich. I do not want to be Head
yet Lon] am pleafed. to hear you repeat even what
you have ſaid a thouſand times; bur Four father 8
authority dread that.
CorqxkL. Believe me, ydu have no N for,
tho" no ſon was ever more obſervant of a father s will
than I have always been of his; yet, in'rhe particular
concerns of my heart, I muſt be my own, director.
This my father knows, and 1 8 2 he wk never urge
me £576 upon the ſubject.
Miſs Ricn. But if he ſhould? l
CoroxEL, Would you have me ſwearto you?
Miſs Rien. Oh, not for the world !—I am HTN
ed of doubting, and yet | don't know how it is, I am
full of apprehenfions : the truth is, I am not very
happy, at home; my ſiſter is, of late, grown cold and
peeviſh” to me—I neyer n the cauſe r
but *tis now too plain.
Col oxEL. Did ſhe ever mention meto you 1
Miſs Kren. Never but in a careleſs way and yet
I think ſince your father's laſt viſit to her, ſhe has
been in better ul than before, tho' I am not uſed
one bit the kinder.
Colo EL. You ſhall not long be ſubject to her ty-
ranny. - My father already knows the ſecret of my
bove; and Ithink that, notwithſtanding the article of
fortune weighs much with him, his regard to my
hap ineſs Will even out- balance that. |
Miſs Rren. Iwithit may—Bleſs me! here's my ſiſter:
Enter Mrs.Kxtcur LY, foe curiſies gravel to the Colonel.
Mrs. KHT. I thought you had been alone, Miſs
Richly, and came to chat with you; but I fee you are
oO e ol,
G 2 COLONEL,
|
| * fider that by the remainder, you would draw on
6 THE DISCOVERY.
CoLoxEri. I hope my being here, Ma'am, will nat
deprive Miſs Kichly, 795 the Pleraure of your com:
FRE
Miſs Ken. 1 belieye, ſiſter, we ſhall both think
our conxerſation very much improved by N .
1 in it. |
Mrs. Knzcar.. I don' know that—A 1 tete a tete 18
to the full as often diſagreeably inter-rupted, as im.
proved by another perſon. . | 1
CoLontt. That, Madam, 1 am ſure, can never
happen, where you make the addition.
irs. KxIoHT. I ſhould be ſorry it were the caſe
now, I own, Colonel; for, to tell you the truth, I have =
vanity enough to be mortified at the thoughts of be:
ing conſidered as an intruder. | 55
Cor ox EL. Bleſs me, Madam! I know of but one y
CFircurnſtance in the world, which could Path Place | -<Y
you in ſuch a light. | |
Mrs. Kxichr. What is that, pray Sir? 1 a
Corox ET. Where an inferior beauty Was meditat- 7
ing a conqueſt, and you. Kept. in to ſnatch it from 9
8
Mrs. KxIcRT. An 1 beauty—1 proteſt, Co- :
lonel, I don't well omen” that-—There is an ap- a:
pearance of amy in the compliment, and yet |
there is ſomething a little myſtical in it too. Clara, th
are you good at ſolving riddles? NC
_ | 2 No, indeed, ſiſter; you ket have ur
a very literal underſtanding ; ; beſides, I think what |
the Colonel fays requires no explanation.
Mrs. Knicat. Then, my dear, I won't affront | h 25
making any application. | wh
in + Rich. lf — ould, ſiſter, I am very ready ES
to acknowlege my part in it; but you ſhould con-
yourſelf that imputation, which but now you wiſhed
to avoid.
Mrs. Knicat. You tee, Colonel, the myſterious ©
ſpeech you have made has the fate of all oracles, to
pe interpreted different ways, and, perhaps, * of
mem
them right Nay, I am inclined to think it bears a
ſtill nearer reſemblance; to them, and that you, like
*
7
* * »
ine od. ne? Bay 1 .
OLONEL. There, Madam, your compariſon fails,
**
ence of a very powerful one.
_ Mrs. KxichT. I vow I don't believe you; do you,
r nn e
the prieſts of old, delivered het you ſaid without any
or I aſſure you I am at this inſtant under the influ ·
4
Miss Rich. I never had any reaſon to doubt the
Colonel's veracity, ſiſter.
Mrs. KxIHT. W
Miſs Rien. Don't you hear him acknowlege it?
- CoLontL. Nay, Madam, if you won't take my
word for it, I can't ſee what reaſon you have to be-
lieve any one's elle.
a matter of faith doesn't concern one's ſelf, infidelity,
hat, then, you think he is really
Mrs. KxIchr. Why no, that's true—But where
you know, can be of no great conſequence one way
pr another. 5 ; .
Colox EL. That's pretty home. (Aldi.
Miſs RI ch. Very true, ſiſter; but ſcepticiſm is a
dangerous, as well as an uneaſy ſtate, in ſame caſes.
Mrs. KxICHT. And a ſtate of ſecurity, Miſs Clara,
the caſuiſts in /ove, as well as religion, are agreed, 1s
not always the ſafe
upon this odd topic.
M.iſs RIcH. Nor I, I am ſure. |
CoLower. I don't know how we came to talk of it;
eft. But I don't know how we fell
but I am convinced the man muſt be very inſenſible
who could avoid thinking of it in this company.
Mrs. KnicaT. Clara, you are a e but
I will have my ſhare in that compliment I don't
know Colonel tho', what your miſtreſs would ſay if
ſhe were to hear you ſay fo, 1
Miſs Rica. She'd forgive him, I dare ſay.
CotroxzL. Come, come, Ladies, I ſee by your pur-
ſuing this ſubject, that you have a deſign of getting
my ſecret out of me; and, as I am ſure I could not
8 withſtand
4% THE DISCOVERY.
withſtand your united force; I think my ſafeſt oy, is,
to make my 1 retreat before 7 betray myſelt— 4 0
Boos to both and exit..
Mrs. * "How 3 Was the Colonel here
before ri. hre
Miſs Ricu.: Not above a quarter of an bour—
Pray, ſiſter, why do you alk? | ;
Mrs. Knzcnr. Becauſe it is quite aftonilhing to
me, how. a man of his vivacity can be entertained by
ſuch a piece of ſtill-life as you are.
Miſs, Rica. Why, ſiſter, - it is not an in alli ble
maxim, that we moſt admire thoſe who are exactly of
our own diſpoſition. I, now, for example, Who am
naturally grave, do, notwithſtanding, a ire 13
lineſs 1 in other people. ble
Mrs. KxicHr. Umph, ſo it feems
£
Miſs Rica. And the Colonel, tho' cry lively
bimſelf, may, however, not diſreliſn the converſation
of a ſerious Woman.
Mrs. Knicat. Indeed, Clara,” you are a very con-
ceited girl. I dare ſwear, if the Colonel ſays fine
things to you, you belieye every word of them.
Miſs Rica. Indeed, ſiſter, I have as humble an
opinion of myſelf, as you, or any one elſe can Poſſibly
have of me.
Mrs. Kxrcur, I am very wad to hear it, child ;
for I own I think vanity would not be a very defira-
ble companion in your ſituation.
Miſs Kicu. What have I done, ſiſter, to deſerve
theſe ſevere taunts from you? ' - *
Mrs. Kxiohr. Oh, Clara, if you bu me of ſe-
verity, I muſt tell you that you are an ungrateful
girl, and I fancy we ſhall n not continue much longer
together.
Miſs Ricn. I am not quite 75 deſtitute; Madam,
but that ] can ſtill be received by that friend wh»
had the care of me from my childhood.
Mrs. KxIchHr. Very well, Madam, I ſhall conſi-
der of it; but Perhaps I may find out "me more
< eligib! le -place for you.”
Mi
rei
*
| ; F H E hey D 1 8 2 Ov E R T. 45
Miß Rich. I ſee, ſiſter, you are reſolved to difap-
prove of every thing I ſay or do; my company is
become irkſome to you, and, bor che PR at leaſt,
ru rid you of it ? | Exit.
Mrs. KNIGHT. I was very inch) in ever taking
her; into my houſe; had it not been for that, I'ſhould
never, perhaps, have ſeen the only man who proba-
| bly could have given me a minute's uneaſineſs.—I
am puzzled at his conduct and yet I ſuſpect now
more than ever that they love each other. If it be
ſo, I ſhall know it too ſoon, for I am ſure Lord Med-
way is thoroughly in my intereſts. Vet my ſuſpenſe
is re Who's there?
e a Maid:
Main: Madam, your chair is ready.
Mrs. KxI HT. Come hither——1I deſire you ak
give orders to the ſervants, that any letters directed
to my ſiſter ſhould be brought to me—I ſuſpect that
girl has got into a filly 1 intrigue. |
Maid. I believe, Madam, Miſs recives letters very
often; but I ſhall take care, for the Oo that you
ſhall have them firſt.
Mrs. KNTOHT. Be fure you dO—— ¶ Exeunt. 5
80 EN E IT. Changes to Lord Mrowav' 5.
3 FLUTTER at her Toilet.
Euter 40 ber Lach Mrbwar.
AF
Lady blur. Good morning to your Ladyſhip.
{ Looks coolly at ber.
9 * Was d you were not well, Lady. F lut-
ter, as you lay abed ſo long this morning.
Lady Frvr. I reſted ilf laſt niglit, nothing more:
Lay. Lhope I don't interrupt you, Madam.
Lady FLum. Not in the leaſt; but I yow you are
fo ceremonious, Lady Medway, that you will not —
low me to think myſelf at home.
Lay, 1 en be forry for that, Madam; Sor
you
* r
<>
4 THE DISCOVERY,
you know there are times when one would not chuſe
to be broke in upon by any one; yet, to ſhew you
how free make wich you, I have brought my work
with me, if you will let me pore a little at it.
Lady FLur. I wiſh ſhe and her work were "9
enough. (Alde.) Your Ladyſhip is exceflively oblig-
ing. You and Miſs Medway are ſuch houſewives,
you quite ſhame-me—This. i Is hon. exp; pretty
who are theſe ruffles for?
LADY. My Lord, to be ſure— Where is Sir Har-
ry this morning? I have not ſeen him yet.
Lady Flur. Dear Lady Med way, don't aſk me
about him, for I know nothing · of him.
Lapy. What, not of your huſband, my Aer
Well, well, Lady Flutter, when your young necks
are a little more inured to the marriage yoke, I hope
it will fit eaſter on you both—This warn blinds me,
PU lay it by—
Lady Fror. Oh impoſſiblel he grows worſe and
worſe every day. There never was ſuch an incorri-
gible ill-natured thing in the univerſe. -
Lavy. Now, really, there T muſt differ from you;
I never took Sir Harry to be ill-natured ; haſty and
Nan, I grant you, he is.
Lady FLuT. Madam, I hope you will allow me to
be the beſt judge.
Lapy. You have reaſon to be ſo, 1 bur 1
ſtander- by may form an opinion.
Lady Fiur. I don't know what your Lach- ip 8
opinion may be; but I am fure it is the opinion of
others, and ſome that I could name of undoubted
good judgement, that there never was, ſince the cre-
ation, a woman ſo unfortunate in a huſband. as 1 am.
Lapy. Oh, Lord Medway, what have you to an-
ſwer for! ( a ) I muſt ſay, Lady Flutter, that if it
even were fo (which, heaven knows, is far from being
the caſe), they are not your friends, no more than Sir
Harry's, who would endeavour to deer you to
ſuch a belief. ;
5 Frur. Bleſs me, e, Ma- am! Why, i isn't it vikble
to
THE DI SCOVERY. 49
£ to all the world? Doesn't all the town ring of his
© ridiculous e and wonder at my b
in bearing it?
_ < Lany. Indeed, Lady Flutter, 1 believe you are
* miſtaken. The town have ſomething elſe to mind
i beſide little domeſtic quarrels that no way concern
* them; and 1 dare ſay, no- body but your particu-
ar friends trouble their heads about it. "Tho, I muſt
* obſerve, that had both you and Sir Harry been 2
little leſs communicative, even to ſome of your
« friends, on the ſubject of your diſagreement, it *
< have been happier for you.“.
Lady Flur. Oh, dear ma am! I-know there-are
ſome tame wives in the world, who can ſubmit in
| filence to any uſage; but I am not one of thoſe; I aſ-
ſure vou. I have not been uſed to CN] nor I
won't be controlPd, that's more.
Lapy. Softly, dear Lady Flutter, I don't mean
to offend you; I would argue with you as a friend.
Pray ſpeak lower; I would: not have any of our {er-
vants hear on what ſubje& we are diſcourſing.
Lady Frur. Gracious! why, every ſervant in \ the
| houſe knows how we live.
Lavpy. But, Madam, don't you think your un-
guarded complaints without doors, and perhaps your
unadviſed choice of confidants dernen 11 leadyou
into ſome inconvenience?
Lady Fi. ur. I don't well underftond your queſti-
on, S__ Medway: ; oF choice of confidants with-
—
i LAbv. Tes le ones, T mean; for example
now, if a young married lady ſhould make choice of a
gentleman. to. whom ſhe ſhould open her. heart, and
let him ſo far into her confidence as to tell him ſhe
deſpiſes her huſband, what do you think muſt be the
_ conſequence? _ 45
Lady Fur. What! why, I ſuppoſe he'd * 1
be di imagine I don't know what he'd thin
Lao PH tell you; he'd think, perhaps, that a
liking to Vim had as great a ſhare in the lady's con-
| ttempt
30 THE DISCOVERY.
tempt for her huſband, as any real fault of the huſs
band's.
Lady Flur. If he thought ſo, I could not baked it;
but [ am ſure there is no one to whom 1 complain
will draw any ſuch inference.
Lapy. There 1s nothing but what is very natural
in all this, Lady Flutter; and the gentleman; on this
| ſuppoſition, will think himſelf bound to make an of-
fer of his love to the lady; ſhe, perhaps, receives it
Lady FLur. Lord, ma'am! theſe are e con-
cluſions—What can ſhe mean?
Lay. If this ſhould be the caſe, what oY en-
ſue! Oh, Lady Flutter, an innocent young creature
like you, ſhould ſtart at the thought. |
Lady FLux. Upon my word, Lady Medway, I
don't underſtand ſuch infinuations. It Sir Harry in-
ſults me, I am not obliged to bear it from every one.
Lapy. I am forry, Madam, that you conſtrue a
friendly caution into an inſult. I am your friend, per-
haps the only one who has the power of ſaving you
from deſtruction.
Lady FLur. Deſtruction Madam, I could not
have expected this from you, in your own houſe. 1
believe my Lord would not thank you for treating
me thus - but if you are tired of me, Madam
LApyv. Oh my dear Madam! you are in a very great
error, my Lord is the greateſt enemy you have 1 in the
world. - ö
Lady Flur. You may happen to be miſtaken i in
that, 2 Medway, as well as in other things. —
Poor woman, ſhe little knows— _ [ A/ade. +
Lavpy. Come, not to play at croſs-purpoſes with
you any longer, I mult tell you that I am no e
to my Lord's deſigns on you
Lady FLur. His de/igns on me!
Lady. Yes, Madam, his cruel, his os grieve to tay)
infamous deſigns on you. Oh, Lady Flutter, .you
ſtand on a dreadful precipice! do not reject the kind
hand that would ſhatch you from certain ruin.
| FLuT, This 1s ſuch extraordinary language,
WY CNS, CE
Q a
THE DISCOVERY. 51
Lady Medway, that really—1 don't know what to
ſay to it—L little imagined I ſhould have created any
jealouſy when I came into your family.
Lapy. Indeed, my dear, you intirely miſtake my
motive. I own there was a time when { might have
been influenced by jealouſy, but I have out - lived it;
and am not now actuated by ſo ſelfiſh a paſſion. Pity
to your inexperienced youth, friendſhip to your wor-
thy parents, regard to the honour of your huſband,
joined to the tenderneſs and duty I owe my Lord,
are the ſole motives which urge me to ſave you all,
if poſſible, from ruin. I know my Lord makes love
to you; and that you have, unwarily, been drawn
in to make an aſſignation with him.
Lady Flur. if he has been ſo treacherous as to
cel this ! |
Lavy. He has not, I aſſure you; yet I am certain
of the fact; I know too well the nature of his con-
nections with Lady Lovegrove—And now, my dear,
if you would eſcape the ſnare which is laid for your
undoing, be adviſed by me, who am your true friend,
Lady Frur. I don't think I have a friend 1 in the
world. BY
Lavy. You are miſkiken: ; Iam fkdevely 10 My
Lord is a man of pleaſure, and is perhaps leſs ſcru-
pulous in affairs of gallantry, than in any other vice.
Your youth and agreeable perſon were alone ſuffici-
ent to attract him; but when ſuperadded to this, he
found you deſpiſed your huſband, and made no diffi-
culty of owning it to kim. it almoſt amounted to an
invitation. x
Lady Flug. An invitation, Lady Medway | you
uſe me very ill.
LADv. To a man of his caſt, Madam, it certain-
ly does. Your unacquaintedneſs with men of in-
trigue makes you blind to your own danger; but
indeed, Lady Flutter, there is but one ſtep between -
you and inevitable ſhame and miſery. What do you
think muſt be the conſequence, if Sir Harry ſhould
dienen that you have appointed a private place of
e 2 meet-
82 THE DISCOVERY.
meeting with my Lord? What muſt he think of the
nature of a correſpondence thus meanly carried
on by ſtealth? Aſk your own heart if you can Juſlafy
this to your huſband and to your friend?
Lady Flur. Lord bleſs me, Lady Medway [you
terrify me I am amazed how you came to che know
lege of this.
3 LApy. Tis a happineſs to you, Ad that have,
if by it I can be the means of ſaving you. ;
Lady FLur. Iown I was a fool for conſenting; but
ſure, Madam, you won't be ſo barbarous as to tell
Sir Harry; it would give him ſuch an advantage over
me, I can't bear the thoughts of it.
Lapy. Why really, my dear, I ſhould be ſorry to
be under the neceſſity of taking ſo diſagreeable a ſtep;
and if I thought I could rely on your honour and diſ.
cretion, in your future conduct, I . ſhould
keep your ſecret.
Lady FLur. Madam, Pl quit your houſe dire, :
if whe will ſatisfy you.
Lady. By no means, Madam; how would you an-
ſwer that to your friends, if they ſhould enquire the
reaſon? Here you came to town to ſtay the winter
with me, and before a month's elapſed you quit *
houſe!
Lady Flur. Why I can tell them that Sir Harry
is ſo intulferable, I can't live with him. |
Lavpy.”.If you will be ruled by me, Lady F lutter,
for one week, nay but for three days, I'll» engage
that Sir Harry and you mall be as happy a couple as
any in England.
Lady FLur. Oh gracious! you could as ſoon con-
vert us into angels.
Lavy. But will you promiſe to be guided by me,
but for a little while ?
Lady FLurt. Oh dear Lady Medway, I know you
would recommend patience and ſubmiſſion, and all
that; but I never can, nor never will ſubmit to his
humour. Kirn
.
ä
- duty to write to your father immediately, and let
him know the danger of your ſituation; * for thougi
l am ſure the parting you from your huſband would
vafflict him, yet tis better he mn receive "you
while you are innocent.” 71
: Madam? g
to ſet about it. Tou are married to a very young
latile, does not want ſenſe, and 1 am ſure 1s good-
to turn one's brain.
nature as he, are at the ſame time à little too quick
and impatient of contradiction. He I will allow is
dear, tis in your power, and give me leave to tell
not receive it as he ought, I will never deſite you to ' i
repeat it—T think l hear his rap at the door. =
would have me; you yourſelf ſhall be the judge;
.
have any private conferences with my Lord.
„
THE DISCOVERY. 53
Lady. Why then, Madam, I ſhall think it my
Lady Flor. What is it ir you” would have me do,
LApv. You! taſk is not Chard; if you a are diſpoſed
man, Lady Flutter; who, though he is warm and vo-
natured in the main. of
Lady Flur. Dear Lady Medway—youre enough
_.Lavy. Hear me out, Madam. vou on che ocher
hand, who have as much ſenſe, and as much good-
too ready to give offence ; but you in your turn muſt
grant, | that you are as ſudden in taking it. Now, my
you *tis your duty alſo, to correct yours. And TH
anſwer for it that Sir Harry will follow your lead;
for 1 am ſure that he loves you a great deal better
than my Lord does, let him tell you what he pleaſes.
Lady FLuT. I wiſh J could fee any proofs of it.
. Lapy. Will you make the experiment?
Lady Flur. What and give up to him?
Lapy. Only for once, juſt for a trial; if he does
554
Lady Fivr. Well, Madam, to ſhew you that it is j
not my fault that we live fo uneaſily, I will do as you ut |
but then remember you are not to write to my
Lavpy. I will not, and gebeten you are not to
; HE FLur. Agreed. . K
N Enter
56 | [RE DISCOVERY.
| Enter Sir HAR Rx.
Sir Maas: How does your Ladyſhip do this
morning ? [To Lady Medway.) I am tired to death,
I have been at my banker's, and jolting all over the
Defend me! Why your head is
deteſtable city.
dreſſed fo barbarouſly, Lady Flutter; you look like
ten furies; by my lite, an abſolute Meduſa; prithee
who gave thee that formidable appearance, child?
Lady FLur. I am ſorry you don't like it, Sir Har-
ry; Il not employ that Frenchman any more.
Sir HARRY. Then l am ſure you don't like it your-
ſelf; for Sir Harry's judgment has not the Pare.
of having any great weight with you.
Lady Flur. No, I proteſt I think it quite becom-
ing and genteel.
Lap. Then it mf be to oblige you, Sir Harry.
Sir HARR v. Undoubtedly, ma' am, that's her ſtudy.
Lady Flur. Upon my word, Sir Harry, 1 1 ;
| male it ſo, if you would let me. .
Sir HARRY. My dear! ſay that over again pray!
it ſounds vaſtly pretty, if it were but true.
Lady Flur. Why then ſeriouſly I would rather
dreſs to > pleats you than any body. |
Sir HARRY. Hark'ee, Lady F lutter, irony is
mighty tickliſh weapon, and you handle it very cl
wardly, upon my foul ; lay it by, or you'll cut *
fingers.
Lady FLur. I . and vow I am in cameſt.;
Sir Hax RV. Oh dear ma'am, your .moſt obedient
but you're a bungler, take my word for it.
LApr. But, Sir Harry, why ſhould you doubt that
Lady Flutter is ſerious.
Sir Hax RV. Why really, ma' am, becauſe I never
knew Lady Flutter ſerious in any thing, but her en-
deavours to make herſelf diſagreeable to me. |
Lapy. In which I fancy however ſhe has not ſuc-
ceeded, Sir Harry.
Lady Flur. If that be the caſe, then I am *
ed to take another courſe, and try what my endea-
vours to pleaſe him will do. 1
3
— 2
THE DISCOVERY. 38
Luv. What do you ſay to that, Sir Harry?
Sir HARRY. Say * a I don't well know what to
ſay to it. There is
hearing her talk ſo, if the atone would but laſt.
Lapy. Take my word for it, Sir Harry, it will be
your own fault if it does not.
Sir HARRY. Faith, ma'am, I ſhould be glad to
keep up the ball as long as I could,
Lady FLvr. Indeed, indeed, Sir Harry I will ne-
ver quarrel with you again. 6
Sir HARRY. Upon your honour.
Lady FLVur. Upon my honour.
Sir HARRY. Nor I with you, upon my foul—And
ſhall we grow fond of one another ?
Lady FLuT. Immenſely.
Sir HARRY. Agreed—!'l never find faule with any
thing you do.
Lady Frur. Norl with any thing you ſay.
Sir HARRY. I'll never contradict you.
Lady Frur. Nor J you.
Sir HARRY. Sweet rogue!
Lady FLur. My dear Sir Harry. |
Ie takes her band and kiſſes it.
Lapy. Well now is not this charming ?—l1 con-
eratulate you both on your happineſs, and leave you
to the enjoyment of it. [ Exit Lady Medway.
Sir HARRY. Duce take me but I ſhould think you
prodigious agreeable, if you were always in ol
humour.
Lady Frur. And, upon my lite, a think
the ſame of you.
Sir HARRY. How came we not to diſcover ns
ſooner ? |
Lady FLur. Becauſe we never tried to find i it out.
Lady Medway was the firſt that told me we might be
happy if we pleaſed.
Sir Hax Rv. Faith then ſhe has more ſagacity than
my Lord; for he was of a contrary opinion, and
uſed to pity me of all things.
Lady FLur. For what! *
Sir
mething deviliſh- pleaſant in
3 — *
— 2 —
© —
— hs
7 1
— ——ñä—4—ä—ꝓä —ü oe i — - rage” — —
- 22 « 0 —
F A 44m os ooo Wu — IN IS — 6, VAI —— — IS as * >
— —— . . 222 2 — *
— — —
. : -
4 — — —„— eas a — —
56 THE DISCOVERY.
Sir Hazzv. For being married to you.
Lady FLur. Really!
Sir HARRY. Truth, upon my word.
Lady FLur. 1 fee his 1 LA * ] Then,
Sir Harry, I will convince him of his error, by mak-
ing the beſt wife in the world, in ſpite of him.
Sir HARRY. Charming creature! I ſhall grow too
fond of you won't let you be fo fNSAging, 1
Lady FLur. You ſhall tho
Enter Lord Mp wa v, who ſtops on ſeeing Sir .
Sir HaRRY. Pray, my Lord, come in—I have a
ſad complaint to make to you. This is certainly che.
moſt perverſe girl!
Loxy. Oh Sir Hay, that is the old flory—T1 won't
hear what you have to ſay.
Sir Harry. But, my Lord, this is a new, a quite
ſpick and ſpan new affair. She has weben ou a re-
Iclution!
Lokp. Not to part I hope!
thing.
Lonp. Ay! what can that be?
Sir HARRY. You will be amazed when I tell you
ile were diſputing about it when you came in
Lox. I am ſorry, Sir Harry, to find you always
in diſputes with your Lady. 1 wiſh from my heart
Icould compole your differences
Sir Haxzy. Oh ſhe is the very ſpirit of contra-
diction, my Lord.
Lady Flur. Depend upon it, Sir Harry, I will
have my own way 1n this.
Loap. And in every thing elſe, I'll be ſworn.
{ie Hhanay, You mult not.
Lady FLur. I will.
Lozp. That's right, [ Afide to Loh Flutter ]
| What is the matter in debate?
| Sir HARRY. W hy, my Lord, *tis the oddeſt thing
in the world; the 1 is reſolved right or wrong in ſpite
I of
Sir HARRY. No, no, my Lord, a much __
146 de. to Sir 3 8
HE DISCO V. EA T. 37
of all I can ſay—to be very good - and make me love
her whether I will or not — Don t you think that is
monſtroully provoking ?
Lady Frur. And he, my Lord, has alten up a as
unaccountable a deſign — of never contradicting me
in any thing Is not that as provoking ? | |
Sir Harry, A*n't we a couple of fools, apt odd
LRD. Why really, Sir Harry, —if this could be—
I can't ſay I am ſure I ſinterely wiſh to ſee you both
on good terms and if you have found out a way
with all my heart. [Sir Harry and Lach Flutter both
burſt out a laughing.
Lonp. I am glad to ſee you fo merry, my young
1 I wiſh it may laſt; that's all. Sir Harry, I
avea word to fay to you. (Why you are undone,
man, if once you let her turn matters to ridicule.
| [Ade to Sir Harry.
"Sir TE Oh my . you are quite miſtaken,
all this is ſerious. ' [ Afide to Lord Medway.
Lady Flur. Come, I'II have no plotting.
Lokp. Poh, poh, ſhe will get the better of you L
ſee — [ A/ide 10 bir Harry. ] Let me ſpeak to her —
Lady Flutter [Advances towards ber.
Lady Flur. The tables are turned, my Lord; I'II
whiſper with no-body but Sir Harry.
Lonp. But two words - — When ſhall we meet?
Lady Flur. Never Afide to Lord Medway. Sir
Harry, now that you intend to be very fond of me,
I. deſire that you will grow a little jealous, and tell
my Lord that he muſt not come intomy e
in a morning.
Sir HARRY. Faith, my find, that's true; I begin
not to reliſh the Spartan ſcheme as well as I did.
Lok p. Mighty fine! this is an extraordinary me-
tamorphoſis, if it holds — but of that I own I have
ſome doubt. |
Lady Frur. You need not fear, my Lord — We
have your good wiſhes that it ſhould, know,
- Lord. That's home, | „
6 F | 1 4 Lady
55 THE DISCOVERY.
Lady Flur. Come, Sir Harry, I want to go to an
4 en this morning; will you be ſo good as to give ;
me your eompany ?
Sir HAaRV. With all my heart, my dear, Tl at-
tend you; and ſee here I received all this to-day !
[Takes out a purſe which ſhe ſnatebes from bim] Oh you
hetle plunderer! give me a kiſs for t— i'll have an-
ether ——
Lady FLV. Go, you extortioner—day, day, my :
Lord. | [7 hey go out romping together.
Lon p. What can be the meaning of all this? damned
little coquet—So' much art at her years or is it ow-
mg to my wife's interpoſition ? Yet ſhe knew not of
my deſign — Any way I am aſhamed to be baffled ſo
ridiculouſly—And that puppy Sir Harry too
Enter SERVANT. _
. SERV. Sir Anthony Branville s eome to wait on
: your Lordſhi
Lok D. Shew him into my ſtudy Here's 3
fool that don't know his own. ind but ay fix
Km one way or other if I cats... | |
Srene changes 10 Lord Medevay s .
Enter Sir ANTHONY and Lord MEDWAY, meeting.
Lon p. Sir Anthony, I am glad to ſee you ; I was.
really in great pain for you yeſterday, when I was
obliged to leave you in the magic cirele of Mrs. Knight-
ly's charms ; 1 wiſh you joy of your eſcape.
Sir AnTa, My Lord, I humbly thank you; tis a
felicity to me I acknowlege for, myLord, there ne-
ver was ſuch a. Syren, ſuch a Ciree !. Sylla and Cha-
rybdis (of whom we read in fable) were harmleſs in-
nocents to her; ; but, Heaven be praiſed, I am my
own man again; and now, my Lord, I am come,
agreeably to the intimation I gave. you before, to
make a moſt reſpectful offering of my heart, o the
truly deſerving and fair Lady, "Louiſa:
Lok p. Sir Anthony, I have already told you Lſhalt-.
be yroyd of your 1 9 and. * daughter I make
| no
THE DISCOVERY. 59
no doubt is ſenſible of your worth | — Therefore, Sir
. Anthony, the ſhorter we make the wooing women
are ſlippery things - you underſtand me |
Sir AxTa. Your Lordſhip's inſinuation, though
derogatory to the honour of the fair-ſex, (which I very
greatly reverence) has, I am apprehenſive, a little tos
much veracity in it. I have found it ſo to my coſt;
for would you believe it, my Lord, this cruel woman
(Mrs. Knightly, I mean, begging her pardon for the
epithet) is the eighth lady to whom I have made
ſincere, humble, and paſſionate love, within the *
of theſe laſt thirteen years.
Lonkp. You ſurprize me, Sir Antliany 3 is it
< poſſible that a gentleman of your figure and accom-
* pliſhments could be rejected by ſon many?
Sir AnTa. I do not poſitively affirm, my Lord,
< that I was rejected by them all; no, my Lord, that
< would have been a ſeverity not to be ſurvived
< Loxp. How was it then?
Sir AxrRH. Blemiſhes, my Lord, foibles, 1
r fections in the fair ones, which obliged me (though
reluctantly) to withdraw my heart.
| * Loxp. Ho ho, why then the fault was your's,
4 Sir Anthony, not theirs.
Sir AnTa. I deny that, my Lord, with due ſub-
< miſſion to your better judgment, it was their fault;
< for the truth is, I never could get any of them to
< be ſerious. There is a levity, my Lord, a kind of
(if I may ſo call it) inſtability, which runs thro' the
4
*
< oentler ſex (whom nevertheleſs I admire) which 1
aſſure you has thus long deterred me from wed-
lock.
»Lonp. Then, Sir Anchony, I find you have
< been peculiarly unfortunate 1 in the ladies whom you
4 have addreſſed,
Sir Ax TH. Supremely ſo, my Lord; for not-
< withſtanding that they all received my devoirs moſt
< indulgently, yet I do not know how it was, in the
long run they either abſolutely refuſed making me
5 happy, or elſe were ſo extremely unguarded in their
12 conduct,
il behaviour to you
&. THE DISCOVESY.
conduct, even before my face, that I thought 1
could not, conſiſtently with honour, confer the
title of Lady Branville on any one of them.
Lok D. Your lot has been a little hard I muſt con-
feſs. I hope however 7hat honour has been reſerved
by fate for my daughter. She is your ninth miſtreſs,
Sir Anthony, and that you know 1 152 propmious num-
ber.
Sir AnTH. My Lord, I take the liberty of hoping
ſo too; and that ſhe is deſtined to recompenſe me
for the diſappointments and indignities J have received
from the reſt of womankind.
Lorp. Why then, Sir Anthony, I ſuppoſe l may
now preſent you to her in the character of a lover.
Sir Ax TH. My Lord, I pant for that happineſs.
LRP. I'll call her, Sir Anthony ——
Sir Ax TH. As your Lordſhip pleaſes — but, my
Lord, this widow Knighty—— _
Lond. Was there ever fuch a phlegmatic block-
head ! (afide) what of her, Sir Anthony ?
Sir AN rH. Iown I loved her better than any of her
predeceſſors i in my heart—Matters indeed had gone
farther between us, for my Lord (not to injure a
lady's reputation) I muſt tell you a ſecret — I have
more than once preſſed her hand with theſe lips.
Loxp. Really!
Sir Ax rn. Fact upon my veracity; I hope your
Lordſhip don't think me vain: ? and as ſhe had in-
« dulged me ſuch lengths, could I be cenſured for
* railing my wiſhes to the poſſeſſion of this beauty?
Loap, By no means, Sir Anthony; but then her
Sir Ax TH. Oh, my Lord, it has blotted, and as I
may ſay totally eraſed her image from my breaſt—
Loxp. Well, Sir, I'll bring my daughter to you,
whoſe image I hope will ſupply hers 1 in your, breaſt.
Exit.
Sir Ax TH. ( 2 T hope this tender fair — will
not be too eaſily won that would debaſe the dignity
* the PR and W me of many delightfi,]
hours
IHE DISCOVERY. ör
hours of languiſhment — There was a time when a
lover was allowed the pleaſure of importuning his
miſtreſs, but our modern beauties will ſcarce permit
a man that ſatisfaction. Pray heaven my intended
bride may not be one of thoſe If it ſhould prove fo
I tremble for the conſequences ; but ſhe nn.
the condeſcending nymph approaches. 5
Enter LOUISA, led in by Lord MEDWAY.
LoxrD. Louiſa, you are no ſtranger to Sir Anthony
Branville's merit.
Sir Ax TH. Oh my Lord 1 10 ¶ Bewing v.
LoR p. That he is a gentleman of family = for-
tune, of moſt unblemiſhed honour, and very uncom-
mon endowments.
Sir AnTa., Oh, my good Lord, ordinary, fight
accompliſhments. |
LorD. You are therefore to. think yourſelf happy
in being his choice preferably to any other lady.
And now, Sir Anthony, I'll leave you to purſue your
good fortune. Exit Lord Medway.
Lov. Sir, won't you pleaſe to fit ?
Sir Ax TH. Miſs Medway, madam — having ob-
tained my Lord' your father's permiſſion, I humbly
preſume to approach you in the delightful hope, that
after having convinced you of the exceſs of my love—
Lou, I hope, Sir Anthony, you will allow me a
reaſonable time for this conviction !
Sir AnTa. Madam, I ſhould hold myſelf utterly
abandoned if I were capable at the firſt onſet (not-
withſtanding what paſſes here) of urging a lady on ſo
nice a point.
Lov. I thank you, Sir; but I could expect no oleſs
from a gentleman whom all the world allows to be
the very pattern of decorum.
Sir Ax rh. Tis a character, madam, that I have
always been ambitious of ſupporting, whatever ſtrug-
gles it may coſt me from my natural fervor; for let
me tell you, madam, a beautiful object is a danger-
pus enemy to decorum.
Lov,
IAE DISCOVERY. :
Lov. But your great —— Sir Anthony, |
leaves me no room to ſuſpect
Sir Anza. I ain obliged to call it to my aid I do
aſſure you, madam ; for ſpite of the ſuggeſtions of
Paſſion, I by no-means approve of thoſe raſh and im-
*tuous lovers, who, without regard to the delicac
of the lady, would, (having obtained conſent) as it
were ruſh at once into her arms, you'tl pardon me,
madam, for ſo groſly expreſſing my idea.
Lov. Oh, Sir Anthony, I am charmed with your
notions, ſo refined! ſo generous ! and I muſt add
(though it may 1 vain) ſo correſpondent with
my own.
Sir AnTH. Mien I am tranſported to hear you
ſay fot I am at this minute in an abſolute extacy!
Will you permit me, dear madam, the raviſhing ſa-
tis faction of throwing myſelf at your feet?
Lov. By no means, Sir Anthony; I could not bear
to ſee a gentleman of your dignity in ſo humble a
poſture; T will ſappoſe it done if you pleaſe.
Sir Ax TH. I 3 myſelf in imagination, I aſ-
ſure you, madam.
Lov. Now, Sir Anthony, as you fee my papa is
impatient for the honour of being related to you, and
that I am bound to an implicit obedience, 1 am afraid,
unleſs your prudence interpoſes, that we ſhall both be
hurried into wedlock, with a precipitancy very incon-
ſiſtent with propriety.
Sir AnTH. I declare, madam, I am of your lady-
ſhip's opinion, and am almoſt apprehenſive of the
tame thing.
Lov. How is this to.be avoided, Sir?
Sir AxrE. Be aſſured, madam, | too well know
what is due to virgin modeſty, to proceed with that
rapidity, which my Lord (with whom J have not the
honour of agreeing in this particular) ſeemeth to re-
commend.
< Lov. You are very kind, Sir Anthony.
Sir AxTH. Oh, madam, I ſhould pay but an ill
£ f copaphanent to your tranſcending merit, if I * not
* think
A
2 0 2 jw
Z 8 2
a K K a
N : ”
THE DISCOVERY, 63
0 chink it worth ſighing for a ane time. longer,
I aſſure you.
Lou. That's very "noble in you, Sir An
15 paſſionate ! and yet ſo nice —if all lovers were but
e you!
Su Ax rn. The world 1 will preſume to fay would
be the better, madam but then I hope your rigours
will not extend too far, my dear lady—a, tew months
or ſo—longer than that | ſhould be very near tempted
to call cruel, I can tell you. |
' Lov. As my paſſionate: lover ſeerns do well di.
poſed to wait, I may chance to eſcape him. ¶ Aide.
Your extraordinary merit, SirAnthony, will undoubt-
edly ſhorten your time of probation— Mean while as
I Ra to you before, that my papa is rather in haſte
to call you ſon, I. would, not have him imagine that
J give any delay to this union. He may call my duty
in queſtion, which he expects ſhould- 2 pace with
his own wiſhes you apprehend me, Sir?
Sir Ax RH. Perfectly, my dear madam, and if 1
may preſume to interpret what you have ſo charm-
* ingly inſinuated to my apprehenſion, you would have
me juſt hint to my Lord, that you are not _e:
averſe to honouring me with your fair hand.
< Lov. That I am ready to do fo, if you pleaſe, |
« Sir Anthony.
_* Dax AnTH. Very good, but at the fame time L
« ſhall give him to underſtand that I am not as yet
*
intitled to receive that very great happineſs.
< Lov. To that purpoſe, Sir, for I would not have
this neceſſary delay appear to be of my chuſing.
Sir AnTa. You little know, madam, the violence
I do myſelf to repreſs the ardor of my flames ; but
patience is a prime virtue in a lover, and Scipio
himſelf never practiſed ſelf-denial with more ſucceſs
* than I have done.
* Lov. I rely intirety on your diſcretion, Sir An-
* thony, to manage this affair with my papa.”
Sir Ax H. Oh, madam, I ſhall convince my Lord,
that it is from very ſublime motives I ſubmit to poſt-
pone my felicity. | ou.
—
5
*
0 X
. \ 3
* o
4 FR '
r 8
. ͤ⏑PtQʃ3 nn FFP . A ˙ A OSA ER Pn Eder hs
- - % = . y — y l 4
5
&@ THE DISCOVERY.
Lov. I am much obliged to you, Sir Anthorty,
for this generous proof of your paſſionate regard to
me.
Sir Ax rn. [You'll find, madam, do not love at
the ordinary rate - but I muſt not indulge myſelf too
on the tender ſubject. I doubt it is not ſafe.
Lov. [Ring.] Sir, I won't detain you.
Sir AnTa. I Fold abſolutely tear myſelf from you,
madam, for gazing on ſo many charms 1 may grow
unmindful of the danger.
Lou. Sir, I will no longer treſpaſs on your time.
Sir Ax r. I muſt fly, madam, leſt J ſhould be
tempted to tranſgreſs thoſe 1 bounds r HAVE Pre-
ſeribed to myſelf.
Lov. Sir, you have my conſent to retire.
Sir AnTa. I am fo overpowered with tranſport,
madam, that I hold it neceſſary to withdraw. —— _
: Lov. Tis the beſt way, Sir.
Sir AnTy. Dear madam, vouchiate: one gracious'
Mile to your adorer.
: Lov. Sir Anthony, your bund ſervant; [Smiles
and curthies.
| Sir Ana. Madam, your moſt devoted—oh dawn-
ing of ecſtatic bliſs! Exit.
Lou. Ha, ha, ha, I think 1 may now go, and
very ſafely aſſure my papa, that I am ready to take
my adorer whenever he pleaſes—this is fortunate be-
yond my hopes. 511. LDR | (Exit.
rs Exp or Tus THIRD ACT.
«a "as. > 1 — 7?
THE DISCOVERY. 65
W TN IW. FE K
SCENE L. 4 S..
Enter Lord MEDWAY alone, readings 8
ag LORD, 7
& Þ HERE” 8 nothing good or ill but by compari-
ſon—Confound your dry maxims, what are they
good for? ¶ He throws away the book, } Let there is
Jome truth in zbat too.—Yeſterday I thought myſelf ,
an unhappy man—but what am I this morning? So
much worſe, that when I compare the two conditions,
I now think I was happy yeſterday—* My affairs are
in a hopeful condition truly! Ruined in my fortune,
+ jilted by my miſtreſs, diſobeyed by my ſon, inſulted
by my wife's ſuperior worth; and Jaſt night (thanks
to my dear indulgent ſtars 1) to ſum up all, I was
< forced to pawn the only ſtake I had left, my honour;
< which when Iſhall redeem, heaven. knows. A is
now Joſt; and if my ſon continyes obſtinately to
refuſe this match, I am irretrievably undone —
* What can theſe chits want???
Enter Sir HARRY and Lady Riveres,; arm in arm.
Sir Hargy. My Lord, 1 am in the Saut
< 1 in the world!
<Logp. At what, Sir Harry
Sir H ARRY. At ng x 4 wife here "M
told me!
3:5 Jane. Sure ſhe has not blabbed ! [Alde.]
What is it?
ws, Lady FLor. Something of your Lordſhip, 1
can tell you.
©Loxp. Of me, Ma'am! I hope I have done
nothing, Ma'am, that——that deſerves cenſure.
Sir Haxmry. Egad, my Lord, you have tho),
and very ſevere cenſure too.
Loxp. Sir Harry, I am ready to anſwer any
e againſt me. = 8
ö K | bo Lady
*
*. *
.
— — ” "x 6 :
- „ a r .
* Xx -
© % me > * * if
1
5 .
f
1
1
debted to your goo
8
66 THE DISCOVERY.
Lady FLur. Ha, ha, ha, neither Sir Harry nor
© I come to challenge you, my Lord.
Sir HaRRVY. Ha, ha, = faith my Lord looks
© as grave as if he were afraid of it though.
«< Lord. Afraid of it, Sir mY pray change that
* word for a better.
Lady Fur, I vow, m ord, you look as if
ery! had a mind to beat us —doesn' t he, Sit
1 Ties Sir Harry, I be e ſome eden
* buſineſs on my hands, and ſhould be glad if you
would diſpatch what you have got to ſay. oy
Sir HARRY. What 7 have to ſay, my Lord;
hy all the world have it to ſay, as well as 7.
Lonxp. What is it, pr'ythee ?
«© Sir HARRY. Why, that you are going to force
Miſs Medley to marry an k.. | hero in Pe
hanging. |
Logs. | Is that all! Fo .
« Sir HARRY. All] and enough too, in conſcience,
<T think; why what the duce, my Lord, 1t 1s the
* jeſt of the town already, Lady F Auitrer and I have
< ſo laughed at the thoughts of it this morning. We
call him the Knight of the inflexible countenance.
« [ Here Sir Harry and Lady Flutter bur 7 out a-laughing.
_ *Lorp. Oh! Iam mighty glad to fee 105 ſo
much of one mind.
Lady Frur. My Lord, as we are intirely i in-
f offices for that union, Iam
* ſure.1t muſt give you pleaſure, |
Sir HARRY. Sarcaſtical gipſey ! but come, We
won't banter his Lordſhip about it; he meant us
0 Are I believe, though he was a little out in his
| e politics—for faith, my Lord, I think ſhe is much |
F the better ſince I have 18 8 her her own way.
*Lorp. Iam glad of it, Sir. ——Have you any
thing farther to offer?
Lady FLur. Nothing, but our good advice, my
„Lord; as we have received ſo much from you, I
1 think we owe ſome in return; and, I am fure,
«if
* .
2
ww. *
La Wai Is
1
| T'H:'E: DISCO N E!R'Y, 6%
c if you would take mine, yall would: not think of,
- my uncle for a ſon- in-law.
Sir HARRT. Oh: fy, fr l ridiculous to the ſt
: degree.
Lady FLuT. Politively, my Lord, 1 vont give
«conſent,
»Lonp. I ſuppoſe your . at age, Ma and,
Lady Flur. On la! he has been an ar
hundred years.
LoR Dp. Why then
2-3 "I
.
*
— A me, 1 am vor at
« preſent in a humour to trifle. _ wo rent
Lady Flur. But we we: wh Lord; an't we,
< Sir Harry? een c
« Sir HARRY. Oh aural, m Ae Ai
-+ Lox. Be ſo good, then, as to enjoy it with-
« out my participation I am really buſy, .
Lady Frur. Come, Sir Harry. He s ſo fples
« netic, there's no bearing him. Let! 8 89 and _
c "Of ourſelves”
Sir HARRY. Oh there? 's 0 pleaſure like it 1
Lady FLur. My Lord could tell us of others,
6 1 warrant; well, don't look ſo croſs ; we'll dance
gat the wedding, if it muſt be a match. g.
Sir HARRY. I dare ſay your uncle will hive
tjouſts and tournaments ; I'll learn to handle a tar-
get, my Lord, againſt the time.»
Lady Flur. My Lord don't think us 3
« of an anſwer, ſo we will leave him to his wiſe reflec-
tions. Y I Erxeunt laughing.
Lonp. A See of 1 impertinents .—He alarm-
ed me at firſt, but i find ſhe. is too A. to ire
him all.“ ö |
Enter c ME DW AY.
Coloxzl. I met Sir Anthony juſt goin to my
ſiſter, my Lord; I ſuppoſe matters are in a —— |
ble train Lerman them.
LRD. He is ſuch an out- of. the- way W there
is no knowing what to make of him; he has been
with me and u tired me with his romantic abſur-
K 2 ö
A if EE curſt ill fortune had not purſued me
6 THE DISCOVERY:
dity 3 but I think it will be a match. Your fiſter has:
at laſt condeſcended to accept of him for a buſband..
Coroner. I * of it; my Lord, ane,
2 thing you wiſhed.
Lon. I thank you, S b
Colox EI. Something has ruled y you, lier LADY
Lond. I have an affair, George, that lies heavy
on my ſpirits Tis in your power, and I think—1
hope, at leaſt in your inclination, to extricate me
from tlie N n me; 18 n. ever Jet
involved. F
CotoN RL. My Lord, you geek youmay 3
me; I am ready to hazard my life for your: ſervice, |
if it be any thing of that nature.
Lond. No, no, no; I am not i old, Medway,
as to require the affiſtance of your fword.——You
hy vor? my meaning quite. 28.4 3
-Cotonzr. You ſeem moved;' my Lord—{Lord
Medway walks about]; pray explain yourſelf.
Lon p. Faith, lone 1 am almoſt aſhamed to 10
the diſtreſs I have brought both upon myſelf and you.
Corox REI. Dear my Lord, dont think of me in
the cate. +
Lorp. Laſt night, Granny I loſt two thouſand
pounds, which I was obliged to pay this moraing, 1d
my honour is engaged for almoſt as much more.
Colox REI. My Lord, I thought you had —
mined never to venture on ſuch deep play again.
Loxp. I had fo; but — happened yeſ-
terday that vexed and diſconcerted me, and I went
to-the old ſet, juſt to amuſe myſelf for an hour; but
I don't know how 1t was e drew me in for
half the night.
Col ox RTL. - My Lord, I am exceedingly concern-
ed; but what can 7 do now? -
Lon p. Why there's the point—1 am very Toth to
> ks a ſubject, that know is diſagreeable to you;
but you ſee to what diſtreſs I am driven——there is
but one way left.—You remember what we talk'd of
laſt
THE DISCOVERY, 6g
laſt night; 1. thought: never to have mentioned 1 iT to
vou again.
Coronas. My Lord, I fartered myſelf you never
would. |
'Logp. 1 thought 1 Gould not have occaſion; I
had, another thing in view y; but chis laſt blow has
_ cruſhed all my hopes at once.
Cor omRL. Is it not practicable, my Lord, to de- ö
viſe ſome other way ? 7:
Loxp. Oh unpoſlible ! Iam overwhelmed with
debts, and wortied like a ſtag at bay ; but with re-
gard to this laſt, for which my konour's pawned, I
muſt be ſpeedy in the means of payment.
_ CoLonzt. Indeed, my Lord, I am exceedingly
ſhock'd at what you tell me.
Loxp. And is that all I am toe expect from you?
Look ye, Medway, it does not. become a father to
| entreat a ſon; neither is it ſuitable to your age, or
the character you bear in life, to be threatenedy like
a ſniv' ling girl, with parental authority; mine is im-
potent, for J have nothing left to beſtow; but as you
would wiſh to proſper hereafter, ſave your father
from diſgrace, your mother (a good one ſhe has been
to you) from penury.
Col o xREL. My Lord, I call Hemp to binn 1
would give up my life to preſerve you both; but you
require what is infinitely more precious !
Lorn. Oh fy! fy upon it! how like a woman
this is!—Your: ſiſter, a romantic girl, could do no
more than ſooth me with fine ſpeeches; I expected
a more ſubſtantial proof of filial love from you.
Coronzr. My Lord, you wound me deeply by
ſuch a cruel charge. What have I not already done
to ſhew my duty, or, what with me was much ſtronger,
my love for you, my Lord? Have I not given up
my birth · right? put it wholly in your ꝓower to alie-
nate for ever, if you pleaſe, my family inheritance,
and leave me a beggar? Is not this a ſubſtantial
proof? My Lord, I beg yout pondan but you have
wrung my _ heart.
RE Lox.
3
2
— & *-
- *. -4 ' x
— o
tm
——_
1c
*
—
Lox o. weary you Bere wrung mine 2 Med
way, with equal grief and ſhame I ſpeak it, I haue
made you a beggar ; I have. mortgaged the. laſt foot
of land I was poſſeſſed of in the world, and the only
proſpect I had of redeeming it, Was 3 s for-
tune; that would have recovered all, and —
you to the eſtate of your anceſtors. 1 a boy-
1h paſſion might have been overcome, when ſuch
important motives for it were united, as your o]
"7
intereſt, and the honour of your family: G 0.1
Den As for my own intereſt, my Lord, it
is but a feather in the ſcale; and for, the re I think
my own honour (which you : yourſelf taught me to
prize) is more concerned in _ "_— than that of
my family can poſſibly be. £250
Logp. You told me you were not x engaged by
promiſe to the lady.
CoLoN EL. I am not, my Lon but are there no
ties but what the law can vindicate ? Oh my Lord,
you forget the leſſons you have un me on other
occaſions ! =;
Lok p. Well, well—] acknowlege the juſtneſs of
your reproach ; but it comes like a bearded arrow
trom a child's s lips—But I have done I give up the
cauſe Had this affair, on which I had ſet iny heart,
ſucceeded, I ſhould perhaps have been happier than
I defire to be. had this morning been laying
down a plan but no matter, it is all over I am
ſorry your mother ſhould be a ſufferer with me—1
have not been the kindeſt huſband=bur I did in-
tend, after I had ſeen you and my daughter ſettled,
to have retired into the country on a moderate annui-
ty; and there, Medway, 1 might perhaps have led a
very different life from what you have been uſed to
ſee; but I muſt ſtruggle with ill fortune as well as
I can—You have been a worthy ſon, I acknowlege
it—You have done 'enough—You ſhall not gn
me with making you miſerable for life.
Coroxzr. Oh, my Lord, I wiſh you had kept up
your reſentment ; 1 cannot bear to hear you talk in
this ſtrain. 2 ,
| Loxp,
© ew
V
*
U
2
1
THE DISCO V EXT. 71
Tenn W not, man 1 dis nothing but the
ervch:
— My Lord, 1 would do any thing + to
prevent—! e |
Log. What? Speak. George.
Corox RT. I can't, my Lord. 16 5.
Lon p. A father's ruin, you would ſay—1. know
the tenderneſs of your nature, Medway, and there-
fore I will not urge you; your father is not ſuch a ty-
rant; I have always conſidered you as my friend.
Coroner. My Lord, to deſerve that title ſtill, I
mew not ſee you unhappy.
s Loxp. Why will ingly, I think you would not
* —nor would I make you fo for the world —I have
„already hurt you but too much. I will not wrong
you every way. I deſerve the ruin I have brought -
upon myſelf, and am content to ſink under it.
Cokox RTI. My Lord, that muſt not be .
„ have power to help it.
LoRD. I cannot aſk it, ſon.?ꝰ
Corox EL. I'll give up all—ecven my love, to fave
ou.
: _ Lord. You: cannot mean it ſure !
ColoxEL. II do as you would have me.
Lon. What! marry Mrs. Knightly?
Corox EL. I will, my Lord.
Lonp. Give me your hand — 0 George,
What a triumph is yours !—You make me aſhamed.
| | [ Breaks away.
Coront.. My Lord, ſince your affairs are ur-
gent, I will not truſt to the wayering of my own
| (EY I will viſit her this morning but! it will be
proper firſt to 1 * Miſs Richly of this ſud-
den change.
Lonp. By all means; but take my advice, Med-
way, and do not truſt yourſelf to ſee her. Write
what you have to fay, for ſighs and tears are infec-
tious things. But all I hope will ſoon blow over; and
when you are married, you may then have it in your
PUNE to make her amends for the fortune ſhe has loſt.
i COLONEL.
7 i
72 "THEY: DISCOVERY.
Coroner.” Oh, my Lord, you little know" the
" ronrt of Clara, it is not in the Power of riches to heal {
a wounded mind! But I muſt not cruſt myſelf to |
think upon the ſubject; I'Il write to her whilſt my |
reſolution's warm. If ſhe lives and ein forget me, |
tis all 1 dare to hope. [ Exit. |
Loxp. "Worthy dein it Ast goes againſt
me to let him complete this match. Vet what other
reſource have I left? I hope this lady may make him
happier than he cxpetiot Bund muſt haſte and write
to her directly, to requeſt that as a favour, which
I am ſure ſhe will think her e N
Leu.
nr” ET Fr OO EO VERY TOY *
Scene changes 1 to Mrs. Knighthy' s "RR
Mis. mmer. as juſt Fay in, giving ber copucin
Sc. to her Mai 4. ;
Mrs. ltotrir. Has Ivy one been here fs : ih
went out ?
x Map. No, madam. aw, |
Mrs. KnioutTLy. Nor any letter © or meſſage 3 :
Maip. Not that I know of, madam, © |
Mrs. KnicaTLy. Go and ſend Miſs Richly to me.
Exit Maid.) What a mortifying Dean am Tin!
to have made advances to a man, who, inſtead of '
ſtepping forward to receive them, ſhrinks back—
My Lord Medway I know would W romote a
union between his ſon and me. back Ba ,
on his ſide then, can proceed from no other cauſe, but
a pre- engagement of his heart. Yet that may be got
over; bur if (as I fear) my ſiſter loves him, I muſt
not come to any explanation with her; for whilſt I
ſeem ignorant of it, I am not obliged to compli-
ment her at the expence of-my own quiet 1 begin ;
to wiſh her out of my ſig t. fi
Enter Miſs RicaLy... 5
Have you done the work I left with you, Chand
Miſs Ricary. I did not imagine you had given. it
to me as a taſk, ſiſter—I have done nothing to .
8. 1
* 2
— 7 4
, V os bly wet ones foal A ted i &
1 N E bISs COVER 2 93
; Mrs, KnicarLy. I cannot conteive what pop have
got into that head of yours, child; for of late you
neyer do any thing won 1 defire—l think I neyer
faw ſo ſtrange an alteration, |
_ Miſs: Ricay, Excuſe me, ſiſter, the alteration
is in you.
Mrs. KxionTI Y. Oh your ſervant, Mz' am, you
Ps learnt to contradict too but it would become
Ys Clara, to remember I am your elder ſiſter; and
tho? there is no great difference in our years, yet Þ
think the ſtate you are in ſhould teach you alittle
more reſpect to me.
Miſs KIcHL V. Indeed, ſiſter, I do not want to be
hourly reminded of that; I am ſufficiently humbled _
atreddy. re
Mrs. KwronrLv. Upon my word, Clara, 1 believe
you will find humility the moſt uſeful virtue you can
practiſe; and. that you may have a better opportunity
of doing ſo, 1 have thought of placing you in a
fober retired family in the country; and who knows
but you may . captivate ſome rural ſquire, and then
you may live according to your own tafte you know.
Miſs Ricaty. I'II tell her at once to puniſh her
for her cruelty. [A/ide.] Perhaps, fiſter, I may have
1t in my power to do ſo without captivating a rural
Jquire—— ©
Mrs. KnicuTLyY. I am glad to hear it; but we
won t talk of your viſionary ſchemes at Preſent. (1
won't let her explain herſelf, Aide.
Miſs Richy. There is a « 8 ſiſter
Mrs. KnicuTLy. Well, well, keep him to yaurt
ſelf; I'll hear none of your love-ſecrets.
Enter a Servant, and delivers a note to Mrs. Engi).
SxRvaANr. From m Lad Medway, Bure the
ſervant waits for an anſwer.
Miſs RicaLy: Lord Medway ! what can this
mean? 5 Ade.
Mrs. Weenv. My compliments to his Lord-
* and ſhall be glad 22 Colonel 8 e
—
„ SPIE. Ax" 5) HAGIGA/ tp - SL RG Sel 4D» VG AS es AGB Ye /7 1 Ont ee > *
N Y * ”
if 74 THE 5 9666 4 ith
| [Exit Servt. T "You v were going to ſay ſomething ofa
Cen. tleman, Clara; Ha, Ha; Pray 25 1 the gentlemen?
But before vou tell me Ne ſecret, 'I intitle my.
ſelf to the favour by making. you my confidant. 5
have made a conqueſt you maſt know, of Which this |
bullet informs me. HOT 1}
"Miſs Ricary. A conqueſt; ſiſter? T thovght this
note had come from Lord edway.
Mrs. KxiOHTL T. Why ſo it does, and the bn
queſt is, though not cf Lord Medway, yet of one J
WHO I hope g be Lord Medway—PIt read S ko the :
9058, | TIS 14 = _—”
15 „Madam, : e eas \
« Tis ſometimes : as great a alt 4 4 68 moet 1
as too bold; my ſon is charmed with you, yet ?
<« durſt not tell you ſo. I told him that I world, and *
0 even went ſo far as to promiſe him a favourable b
<« reception. You ſee, madam, my credit as a man
« of ſagacity is at ſtake on this occaſion, and Lam
40 ſure you have foo much goodneſs to let me forfeit 8
« it. I flatter myſelf you will allow Colonel Medway h
« the honour of kiſſing your hand. He will wait on |
« you in half an hour if you do not forbid him. |
Tab « I am, Madam, &c. *
© 0p Mebwar. 0
. 8. een time T9 ei! {t
what do you ſay to this, Clara Is your lover as ty
Pretty. a fellow as Colonel Medw ay? —
Miſs RIcHLV. Oh, 2 this is 160 much! bur th
F give you joy. [
Mrs. erz. What 8 the matter; child! Why W
{urely, my dear. Clara, thou couldſt not have any
deſign upon the Colonel] Could you ſup ole that a V
man of family like him would marry without a for- 5
tune to ſupport his rank and title ß 1 5
Miſs Ricary. © I am ſatisfied J was 'miſtaken, .
ech and ſhall now be obli ed to you if you will 't
fend me into the country directly. W 6s 75
5 1 Mi. KxTORT IT. ” PF really, my dear, I think oe,
0 5709
DYE DISEOVERY. 75
you judge right. I am ſorry you have been fo im-
* prudent as to ſuffer any little gallantries, with Which
« the Colonel might*have treared you, torake.a {e-
© riouis hold on jo]; but bnce it has happened ſo un;
£ * luckily, ; if own think it will be rather aukward for
you to be 1 in the houſe on i the occaſion; or By. tote
vou, the truth, I intend to marry him.
© Miſs RICHLV. Then, ſiſter, I will, ify ou. _—y .
© retire for the preſent, ts the houſe off my eien
* who brought me u gl. you are at. leifure to dit;
« poſe of me Other An |
Mrs. KnicutLy. You are perfectly right, my
dear; I am pleaſed at this mark of Four diſcretion
We don't part in an ex, Clara; I hal M be
your ſincere friend, 1 1 90 you. =
Miſs Ricary. I hope ſo, ſiſter — 1 will juſt go and
give a few, directions to the rant ag lien come,
to take my leave of y0oh. |
Mrs. KN1GHTLY., Fou oem not” knen! be long i in
giving your. orders for I. ſuppoſe you would 5
uſe to meet the Tolonel here. | Becks you, f find,
he defires to ſee me alone.
- Miſs RrcuLy. © I ſhall not interrupt yd u. [Ext
Mrs. KV IOHTLV. Poor Clara! T pey heut and am
ſorry to huild my happineſs on the rum of , but
Ell mak&yowamends.; I ſee ſhe loves, but, tis Plain.
the is not beloved. Perhaps tis really as I faid, and
he has won her affections by a few; compliments,
meant only in gaiete de eur. I hope that BY —
the eaſęa ot, notwithſtanding my bee e
I have delicacy enough to be unhappy, if Kad =
wholly poſſeſs his heart. rr 1085 18811 444029090
Enter Malu, and: gives: Drs „ Vibe 4 ber — 8 7
1297181 78. 1 5 A 514 A
. a Fd ſiſter > ak . 35
AID. dam, Yi ,oxgered, they, ſhould, all be,
Dane to you. [Exit Meid.
GT Te Oh, 4 had forgot—It.i is of a 00
at, conſequence now; 5 but. let us ſee Who this i
= om—George Medway! I am almoſt afraid to, read,
8
it, Pu ill know the worſt.
* 2 (Reads,)
. — AS AS On — — . — 7 be * =
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—— — — —
= — — — —
5 . — —
— — 2 — — — —
—— —2 2 ——-=-= . Ä ů
———— — — _m——t—c_s — —
Das Sree as — 2 — 2 8
. AY .
76 THE wb Cov ens |
= * d. th H YRabui
„ Within chit hour,” "my Clata, the tn:
« ſpicable man, who called himſelf your. ver, Will
« 'fapplicate your ſiſter for her hand, 570 With a heart
0 long devoted, and never, never to be recalled
4 from you, offer mean, deceitful, vows to her.“
(Beaver 5! what's ibis?) t know not what 1 write,
< for deſpair dictates to my trembling hand. Hate
« me, deſpiſe me, I conjure” {wiſh 1 could do — 400
& yet hear the reaſons for this fatal k
Oh, chi has, given me an ague fit!
Enter Miſs Rien VI. cn; 1 ;
Miſs 9198 am come nov, ſiſter, 15 bid
Jo farewell. (Mrs. K 0 ruſhes out of. the room.)
leſs me, what tan be matter with my ſiſter
ſhe ſeems ſtrangely agitated—ſhe was reading a letter
it was not that which ſhe juſt now ſhewed to me.
What can it be? but T'll not intrude to aſk her.;
I believe ſhe can diſpenſe. with the ceremony of an
a and I can depart without one.
LA. foe: is going out, Colonel Mzpway NG nk in by
a ſervant, bath ſtop forts and loot at each other,
:"Couonta.” I did not t this, Clara! I thought
you would have” ſpared me the 7 of” ſuch A
meetin fre
— tenLy. It was Bot ge 8 believe
me; yet, if you had youchſafed to have given me
but a little notice of this viſit, i ald have been
P $5
9444
but kind. eee
CoLongL. I thought my bettet, diſtracted as ir
was- would at leaſt have revented an interview.
*
Miſs R IcHLI V. What letter?
£3 {?
Miſs RicaLy. 1 received none; but iow you
arg] it, I un, afraid i it has fallen 177 my ſiſter's
n
af « :
F Y —_—_ Mx MM. a Mo. MM alt
\ Coronzi, Did not you receive one from this
within this half hour? it was the carlieſt notice I
could give you. 1 |
Coꝛroxxi. *
n
rl
Leaf annals Þ 9. |
explained at full. a ee
I would neither give, nor receive a yow; hut left you.
at full liberty to make a better choice, wins your
proach. in it, which I cannot bear from you. \
ſhare in this aCtion—T wiſh it had—for then per-
haps I ſhould part with you with leſs reluQance,
eee —_ Py wo
THE D 180 VBE 17
e If fo, then, Clara, what a monſter
muſt 14 ear to oh? ignorant 2s y ou are of the mo.
Tres fr Rom bor rar "which in chat .
Miſs Riehl v. indeed, 1 am bus in prepared
ſuch a ſudden ſhock—yet I am willing to believe
Ts muſt have had wrong ende for what you have g
One.
Coburn "Can the mabſtyer your heart admit
it as an excuſe for Oy” leaving you, that it is to
ſave from utter and "iminediate 1 2 a father that T
dearly love? 10. * 5 |
Miſs RicuLy. It enn, Sir; add pail FT Gor = |
the motive; for I am ſure that nothing elle could 1
have brought about ſuch an vent; and I ſhould little
deſerve: that eſteem Which 1 hope you ſtill retain |
for me, if I could not give up my'teeble claim to 9
your tenderneſs, for ties” of ſo much" more e
8.
- Coronzr,” oh chu, hy did 1 vive" you up?
what have 1 got to compenſare for your loſs”
Miſs RicaLy,' Tour virtue! the conſciouſneſs of
having acted right—You- have broke no oaths, no
promiſes to mie; nay, I have often told you 1 would
never be your's but with your father's conſent; for
funk as I am in fortune, I would not -meanly creep
into a family that rejected me. And for this —
duty or your intereſt ſhould urge you.
-Coronsi. That laſt word, madam, carries a re-
At; © 7
Miſs RicnLy. Do not miſtake me, Sir; I have
not the leaſt ſuſpicion, that intereſt has the: ſmalleſt
than now I. own I have power to do—but we muſt
not touch upon this e 1 (ona you,
ene
* .
5 Nds WERTE.
Leber Hany do vou ſay! no, Clara, no,
bappineſd and id — den hands; what I have
done - day has mad * of me for Th |
Miſs Rrenly. Oh Sir—ſhew more indifference,
if you would fot dane trepine 0p. much. at my
own fad fate on 1 194 501
Co. „And What is mine 3 Clara, con-
demned to loſing what is dearer to me than life;
with che ſuperadded grief of giving up my days to
one: cannot love Your condition is not quite fo
wretched: ou ſtill are free, and time may incline you
to beſtow your heart upon ſome happy man.
- Miſs Ricaty: Never, never.
ColovEL. Do not ſay ſo—l had but that hope
left to keep me from deſperation—IF I loſe it, I ſhall
forget all obligations, Aude give my 1 VP, to 20.
verty and ſhame. go 7 1 Fi
Miſs RieRl y. No more Zh betetch pon, Sir you
have made a noble facrifice of your love do. not
ble the mefit bf your filial goodneſs; by; repenting
of an act, that raiſes you higher even in my eſteem.
+», COLONEL. Clara —the tears ſtand trembling in
» I,
your eyes while you ſpeak—pray give them vent, for
Jam aſhamedito weep alone. He turns from Ver.
M.iſs RicRLY. See — mine Are diſperſed already
Collect pourſelß I beg of bu. you have a nable cha-
racter to ſſuſtain . Ein 193: 46 & Ws 5 rl 7 Vun 4 R ul
Cold wk, Oh Clara, Lam unequal to the taſk—
I have no fortitude left 6 Sano 07 De tet, 36
Miſs Ricaiys „Think of your unhappy father,
Sir! let that keep up your reſolution. I grant you
have à difficult taſk, for my ſiſter may poſſibly.
„think herſelf affronted by the explanation you have
made in. chat letter, e et fallen into her
hands. 11
# 4 — — Hy | S* 3 % j * # | 21 1 * 4 2 ; * x * {1 "=
,
5 il; x ley * Ir a: Arnold
£ Miſs RietLy., Nay, do not indulge! in . a
* vain hope, tis but a ſurmiſe of mine, and may have:
a P. in it.
ment to each other, yet that did not check the pro-
kd 111 5 F
1
-Lknow ſhe ſuſpected our attach ·
dy
+ BB |. 0a. Qs
- Oo ron 2 0
Wo . n'
VF
—
8
b
4
ti
PVE E PSO s * HEN 75
© oreſs Fo her 10%. I am Soing to huic! her Eboufe
ectly; , and! this] Sir; bag my own, for my ſiſteres,
40 01 your fake, is the'laſt time velmuſtever ices
—forget me, fir, and 71 conjure you apa be
happy " 5 [Dai
Colo EL! (Chit y—ſtzy See ste
end and the hope I had nouriſhed for ears is va-
niſhed like a dream. — This. trial was more than I
thought I could ſupport; but her noble firmneſs, I
believe, made me aſhamed to ſink quite under the
blow that has parted us for ever =I wiſh I were out
of this fatal houſe- We þ 1 am yory vl 6 to bo the
toyer” $ pore
333 Enter Lird Mrovar. .
is
Loxp. How now, Medway! har 4 is the mean-
ing of this? alone, and with a countenance of deſpair!
J bid you wear a better face. Where's Mrs. Knightly?
have not you ſeen her yet? Ithought, by this time, to
have found you at her feet, and as 1 paſſed by the
door, ſtepped in to help you to make love; for I
know your heart is not warm in the buſineſs, |
Coroxer. My Lord, I am very glad you are
come; you muſt, indeed, make love for me; for
I aſſure you I am in no condition fo ſpeak for myſelf.
Loxp. Why, what's the matter man? I ſuppoſe
Miſs Richly and you have been whining over one an-
other; did not I warn you ASSP. FR. George, and
bid you write to her?
Coro EI. Sol did, my Lord; bur unfortunately
ſne did not receive my ſetter; 1⁰ that by accident
we met juſt now, not, I aſſure you, with the loaſt
deſign on either fide.
Loxp. That was unlucky; ; but how came the to
mils of your Ter t 0
Coro. By a circumſtance ſtill more e unhicky,
for ſhe, is afraid her ſiſter got it.
" Loxy. What a curſt ELIT cbideht vit that
be ſo !) yet Her love for you will make her overiobk
all ths Twas but a thing of courſe, mere gallan-
try. '—T'll lead you to her, and turn it off.
8 THE DISOGCOVERN N.
. CoLenzL., I beg of Wen Lord, to ſee her firſt
alone 3 ſhe dogs not yet know that I am come; the
ſeryant conducted me to this room, ſuppoſing ſh
was here, and lucky was it for me that it h
otherwiſe; her ſiſter's preſence ſo diſconcerted DM
that 1 ſhoulg-have: amen my but very ill to-
Lonp. But ſhe expects you by this time 12 a over.
and out ſtay his appointment l for ſhame, ( George |. 1
Colo. Let me beſeech your Lordſhip to diſe
penſe with my. ſeeing her juſt now z I'll take a turn |
or two in the Park, and [endeavour to compoſe my- 4
ſelf ; and if my paſſion for her ſiſter ſhould be menti-
oned, you, my Lord, can, with a better grace than
I, give it what turn you pleaſe. |
| woe Well — perhaps ir may be better ſo. I 1
| own I had rather he ſhould ſpeak of that to me than F
| to you: get you gone quickly I Il prepare the
| way for . admit me to her toilet.
| "I [Exon diferent 0 1
ü i er Od cd De AA END 1
| A 0 1 V. d
l SCENE L Lord Medwoys His 55 F
| | Lord MEDWAY r :
JY WY a ſtranę e fataliry are all my actions go- 5
verned ! Nothing that I can deviſe but what b
ends in diſappointment and vexation.— Let in this h
Laſt inſtance, I ought to be thankful for my diſap- Yn
3 - for DT deſign been accomp liſhed, | 2A
o what a horrid i ſhould I have plunge my .
N eee cold to think of it. <
I was born for delle, and the ruins 1 have 1
made myſelf are now come tumhling en my head. *
No * n n.0 F belvee. | ot
* 4 17
4
I a Aa »
** x Cs * .
„ > ts pn, ©
me but iran And the life of ſhame I have
to look back on l To think how: I have abuſed,
— * perverted every gift beſtowed on me for a 1
How 4 Arkeen at my on reflections 135
os
x r
18
5 Euter Colonel Ms DWAY:
George | What now, George!
CoLonsEL. My Lord, I have been endezvouring; & to
aſſume ſuch a frame of mind, as will, I hope, enable
me to go through with the rafk in which 1 have en-
gaged. I am ready now to wait on Mrs. Knightly.
Logy. 1— did not expect you back ſo ſoon.
COLONEL. I thought, my Lord, the ſooner I return-
ed, it would be the more agreeable to you, ag) well
as reſpectful to the lady.
Logp, Can you feel nothing more than eſpe
for that lady, ſon?
Co EL. My Lord, you Faber 13 cannot. My
heart is given to another. JI muſt be unhappy yet 1
hope I ſhall not make Mrs. Knightly ſo. |
LeRp. Poor woman—fhe is already too much fa.
\ConontL, Have you had any converſation! wien
her, my LG ?
Log. I have. Lou cannot be her huſband.
CoLonzt: I am villings my Lotd, if the lady will
nccept of me.
LORD. You know: act what you fay—Oh, George,
George—4/ou will ftart,when I tell ls the dee diſ-
covery I have made.
„ Cotoex fL. What is it, my Lord? 3
Lozp. Mrs. Knightly——ſhe- to whom 1 would
| ws Joined vou I find i e
on EL. What?
3 Oh Medway my own as
CoLoneL. You amaze me, m Lord—how did you
diſcover it?
Lon p. When 1 went to ſollicit for you; 1 found
her in her cloſet, under great agitation, on account
' of the letter you had written to her ſiſter. —I Le
8520 for vou, but found her averſe and cold,——In a
-
— e — —
82 THE DTSCOVERY.
little pauſe of diſcourſe, 1 happened to caſt my eyes
on the picture of a lady, which hung juſt before me,
and was ſtruck with the reſemblance of a beauty
whom, in my early days, I loved, and cruelly betrayed.
CoLoxEL. I remember, my Lord, to have heard
you ſpeak of ſome fuch thing—a lady, who, when
you made your firſt campaign in Portugal, g gave you
her love.
' Lox. The fame—] thought the injured. counte- |
nance ſeemed to frown upon me. Surprized at the
ſight, I haſtily demanded whoſe the picture was, and
was told by Mrs. Knightly *twas her mother's.
Coronet. That muſt, indeed, my Lord, have
ſhocked you.
Lon p. Oh, 'twas nothing to what I ſuffered after,
when farther urging her to ſatisfy my curioſity, ſne
told me her mother's name and family! The apparent
confuſion this threw me into, rouzed her in her turn
to aſk me ſome queſtions, which: brought about this
amazing explanation. |
Coroner... She eould not know you by your name,
my Lord, as it was ſince my birth you alfumed that
with the title of Medway.
Lok. True. She had heard of me by my. own
family name, and aſked me, with a faltering voice,
whether I had not tormerly been at Liſbon, and borne 5
the name of Selby. My acknowleging that I had,
threw her into agonies, from which I, with difficuky, 4
| m
b,
> 3 ie A, . be 06
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recovered her. |
Coronet. Did you never know, my Lord, that
you had a daughter by that lady? 1
Loxp. Oh no, no! I was recalled to England
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early in my amour with her. I married ſoon after my .
return, and, thoughtleſs and young as 1 a was, oy
never enquired: after her more. 2 - 16
Coroxer. How then, my e. can you be cer- 3
rain of this fact? G,
Lok p. Oh, Medway ! by too 17 5 an evidence
FT he penitence and deep remorſe of a dying woman .
The PET lady confeſſed the ſecret, . witl all its ſe
cir⸗
—
Www ey Ry WO
a.
1
a
THE DISCOVERY. 83
circumſtances, to this her daughter, when ſhe was on
her death- bet.
Coronet. Mrs. Knightly, then, had paſſed for Mr.
Richly's daughter ?
Ion p. She had; the match between him and her
mother was haſtily concluded by her friends, immedi-
birth, Mr. Richly was abſent on his affairs in the Indies;
_ ately after my departure. At the time of this lady's
and tho? the came into the world in leſs than ſeven.
months after the marriage, yet (this circumſtance be-
ing carefully concealed from him) he never doubted
of her being his own.
Coon EL. Poor Clara! ſhe then has been doubly
wronged, in being deprived of her birth-right, as well
as in toling the unequal Portion which her father left
16465 That was tlie cauſe which wrung the ſeeret
From her dying mother's breaſt. Her deceaſed huſ-
band had, through a partial fondneſs for his ſup-
poſed eldeſt daughter, left her ſuch a diſproporti-
oate ſhare of his wealth; and the mother, in divulg-
ing the ſecret, charged Mrs. Knightly, with her laſt
breath, to do juſtice to her ſiſter. This ſhe herſelf, in
the hurry of her ſhame, ſurprize, and grief, acknow-
leged to me.
Colox EIL. I long to know, my Lord, what reſulted
from this extraordinary! interview.
Lok p. Mrs. Knightly's agitations are not to be
deſcribed. She wept and wrung her hands. I mixed
my tears with her's ; and, while ſhe fell on her knees
before me, 1 involuntarily dropped on one of mine,
and begged of her to accept a bleſſing from her re-
pentant tather. She ſtrained me to her boſom ; then
riſing with a noble air, ſhe made a ſorrowful and filent
motion with-her hand that I ſhould leave. her. I did
lo; and haſtened home, to brood over my own re-
flections
George!
Colox EL. My Lord, there Is kbrking ſo extraor-
Oh ſuch 1 ſuch reflections,
Adinary in this event, that it looks as if Providence it-
def had PA | | LogD.
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8 THE DISCOVERY.
Loxy. Oh, Medway, | tis for yaur. lee then! 31
do not deſerve the care of heaven | N
- Coroner: I beg, my Lord, you will not entertain
ſuch deſponding thoughts, but hope the beſt, (
\ Lorp, George! there's no foundation here For
hope; I Want that cvithin which ſhould ſupport me.
It is nat the flaſhineſs of wit, or _ of ſupe mu
1
talents, that can avail me in an hour like this. |
give them all, nay, the whole world, were 1 — —
of it, to be poſſeſſed of ſuch a virtuous ſelf-acquitted
heart as yours,
CoLoxer. Your thinking thus, my Lord, makes
ou almoſt the very man you with to be.
Lonp. Oh, George, George! words cannot de-
ribe the anguiſh which I feel. I ſhould be reſigned
to it, did it concern myſelf only, as the juſt puniſhment
ofa life of folly and vice; but when I think of you 124.
of your mother, I am diſtracted,
5 Euter Lady mb
Lapy. My dear ! [Lord Medway turns 1 hor 1
1
Medway, wor do you let your father ſink thus under
His apprehenſions?
Colon Do you ſpeak to him, medam, he wants
your tenderneſs to ſooth the troubles of his mind.
Lavy. My dear, you have no cauſe to be thus
affected; I come a happy meſſenger of Joyful neus
to you.
Lox. Joyful, do you fay! that would, Indves,
{urprize me.
Lapy. Mrs. Wie is in my chamber my
Lord. We have had a long converſation. She has told
me the ſtrange event which this day has unfolded,
and begs to ſpeak with you—ſhall J bring her in?
LoR p. Ay, pray do, my dear. [Exit Lagy.
Corox RL. Neaſſume your ſpirits, my Lord; 1
dare promiſe you a happy iſſue to this affair,
Lord. I own this unexpected viſit from Mrs.
Knightly has a little revived me; and. the generous
: iranknels with which ſhe has communicated the ſes.
cret
7 H E PASCOVERY: 8g
eret to my Witte thews the Has A noble and enlarged
ed 19115 etc 28411
3:3
Enter Lal Abet and Ads. Knron#Ly:!/ .
Mrs. Kagan. My Lcd, „L chought tc n
Fou alone. 2 cannot, without contuſion, Jogk up to
Colonel Medwa W BE Set
Lokn. Tau, Madam,” have no cauſe ; 1 wg
ſon's preſence creates in you any unealinels,
withdraw, ry -. T 5
Mrs. Kinonr, He heed not. my 1 for 3 is
materially concerned in what Lhave to fay,” tis fit. he
ſhould be preſent. at my explanation. I preſume; Sir,
you are by this time no ſtranger to my ſtory.
CoLoxEL. I think myſelf happy, madam, in finding
p have ſo near and tender a claim to your regard.
Mrs. Kyicurt, 1 py to give you ane {till nearer,
Sir. I will not now apolo Bite for the means by which
I came at the knowlege o
that mutual love which I
find there is between my ſiſter and you.
Lavpy. It needs no excuſe, Madam; it was a .
ꝓy event, as it gave my Lord the opportunity of --
making a diſcovery ſo fortunate for us all.
Mrs. Knigurt. My Lord, I owe my. ſiſter a large
| ends for the diſtreſs I "Rave occaſioned her on more
accounts than one; and you in your turn, I think,
ſhould recompenſe your ſon for the ſacrifice he was
Willing to make to * Has be yqur permiſian f to
make Clara his, bride ? +
_ Cotoyzz., Oh, madam, you are too, too good, |
Mrs. KniguT. You have but little reaſon, Sir, to
ſay ſq yet. My Lord, the Colonel's love for my ſiſter
enſures his happineſs, and, to render her acceptable
| to you, I am ready to ſhare half my fortune with her.
a Logp., Oh, Medway, what an exalted mind is
ens 4 io
Lavy. My dear, do not keep.) your ſon ſuſpended;
he ſeems to check the tranſports that 1 ſee riſing in
his heart, till he has his Mex: 8 enen to his
boxe e |
=,
86 THE DISCOVERY.
' Loxp. Take, take your Clara from this excellent
creature's hand, and may you both be bleſſed ! .. *
Mrs. Kxronr. No. thanks, Colonel [ the. Colonel
advances to Mrs. Knightly]—reſtrain your raptures till
15 my fiſter. I have ſent to defire her company
re And now, my Lord, I hope I have, by this
one act of juſtice (for it is no more) made happy, the
neareſt, and deareſt relations I have on earth. -
Lorb. Son! Lady Medway ! help me to praiſe
and to ackyowlege as 1 ought, ſuch unexampled
goodneſs J +
'Lavy. Oh, my PEE I want words— gan
gratitude, you lee, has opt his Urterance. 80
Euter a Kr 111
Se Rv. Miſs Richly, Madam, is below. |
Mrs. Knrcnt. My Lord, and Lady Medway, will
u let me have the pleaſure of preſenting the Colo-
nel to my ſiſter without any other witneſs ?. FEES
Ws By all mens, 7 Way ds
CoLoNnEL. Yon, madam, | have the beſt ficht to
diſpoſe of me.
rs. Kd IOHTr. Come, Sir. f gives him ber bond,
and he Jugs her out.]
Lord and. Lady MzDwav: bin
Pn Oh, Lady Medway, I have not herited the
benefits which are thus ſhowered down upon me.
But it is your goodneſs, your's and my chilgren's
virtue, have been the care of Providence, and I am
bleſſed but for your ſakes. Vet, my dear, I have
the ſatisfaction to aflure you, that what has paſſed
this morning , joined to ſome other late incidents,
has ſo thorou hly awakened reflection in me, that
from this day 3 ou will find me a new man.
Lapr. My Lord, if you are ſenſible of any ing
in your conduct that you would wiſh to rectify, I
rejoice that you have taken your reſolutions from the
feelings of your own heart; for it would grieve
me
|
THE DISCOVERY. 87
me if Lans dae wen by a Took..reproached
you.
L You never did, Madam; 1 acknowiege
you have been the beſt of wives; tis time now that
I ſhould in my turn ſtudy to deſerve that conſtant
and tender regard from you, which I have hitherto
but too much ſlighted. And now, beſt of women, re-
ceive my hand a ſecond time; and with it an aſſurance,
which I could never make bears, that you poſſeſs my
heart entire. [x bey embrace.
LApy. Oh, my dear, I never was truly happy till
this inſtant. -.
Loxp.. You'll find my conduct as perfecliy re-
formed as your heart can wiſn; aſſure yourſelf you
will.
LApv. Pray, my dear, no more—you are now
| every thing that I would have you to be. I have but
one wiſh left, which, could it be accompliſhed, would
render me completely happy——Poor Louiſa!
LogD. I underſtand you, my dear—I. bear young
Sr is returned.
Lavy. He is, my Lord; he arrived laſt pe at
-do not preſume. to. mention him; but indeed ſhe can-
not be happy with Sir Anthony. Roh
Lon p. I would willingly gratify you in every thing;
l but how can I acquit myſelt with honour'to Sir An-
.thony? You know he has my promiſe.
Lady. I know it, my dear; yet am I ſure he i is ſtill
fo much in Mrs. Knightly s power, that with her
aſſiſtance, I make no doubt but Moy gs ny en
diſengaged from it.
Lox. If that could be done
Lavpy. We ſhall certainly wick a vit from him
1 ; ſuppoſe, my Lord, Mrs. Knightly: were to
try her influence on him when they meet, it will be
ce
=
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a good opportunity-
Lon. Wen, my dear,——you ſhall cake your
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Hands,” $9267 04679 075 Fa . 30030706
Ni Rien. Oh, Aſter 7 y obligations 't6 700
Mrs. KNfeffr. Ns: more, fiſter; I have but ac
quitied myſelf of a duty n 73630
ILA. Louifa, I have beeft Ppetgtieng for you
once more; my Lord has yielded, if he eh with ki.
nour get off from His word: to Sir Antony. Dear
Mrs. nightly; with a little of your help, I am ſure
it could — be done.
"Mts: Kwiont. Madiin, you we cnimand n me in
at thitg, = ©: 97 < 8% QI
Lov: Oh, Madam, 4 werd from you, hay a kind
ook, would. Tam ſure recal your fugitive lover.
Mrs. KN IOCHT. I have not the Kaner to chink 2.
but ſince it will be agreeable to ur PH uy if I have
kill any intereſt in hirn.
Laby:- This is about his tiche of vilting vs. What
pe you were to make the experiment here?
Mrs. 'Kwnronr, To oblige you, laden chu whuch
I muſt tell you, 1 never mean to marry again; but I
know it will content Sit Anthony DN to Dy reſtot=
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L Yi i c : 2 £ . P 54 C\ ”
5 — - * — M
9 off blo) cor BRNP4d Servant. PE
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Sruv, Sir PW a Branville is below, my Lord!
Logp. I'll wart on him.
Luv. Dear m Lord, ſuffer lm to be condupted
' —
5 Mis: Kwregr. My Lord, 1 have zideligh of bea
ing him from Miſs Medway, I aſſure you.
Lob. Oh 1 fee: you have been plottin Deſire
Sir Anthony to walk up——Louifa, on this joyful
day I muſt not ſuffer you to wear a look of biontent
ou owe all to this lady, and the beſt of mothers.
LaDY.
£2754
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| wotthy
1.11 E ISC OU ERA. 90
- .Lavy, Louiſa, you had beſt retire. [Exit Louiſa.
1 al Si. AxTH¹ñO , Bows low to Lord and Lady
«© Medway, then looks round with furprize..
Sir Axrh. My Lord, I thought my eyes would
5 been bleſſed with the ſight of my fair miſtreſs.
Mrs. KNIGHT. Then I find it is all over. [Half
gſide.] What, Sir Anthony, not a look en vou
quite forgot me?
Sir ANTH. Ah, madam, that enquiry comes a little
of the lateſt, I do aſſure you:
Mrs. KxIOHT. I am forry for i it, Sir Aathony.” .
Sir AntTa. My Lord, I hope your -Lordſhip is of
Opinion, that Ido not = EAT te from that fidelity which
fre, in in Ae into con- ;
Lowe your excellent daug
ference with, this lady.
Log. By no-means, Sir. |
Sir AyTa. I flatter, myſelf I am indulged wich
your ladyſhip' 8 fayourable, conſtruction on the fame
d | ;
Dy. Without doubt, Sir Anthony. = |
ue. AxTa. Colonel, I would entreat the favour of
being a by you like wiſe.
Cox oN EL. O Sir Anthony, the laws of good
breeding are Nas to be diſpenſed with.
Mrs. b Hong Sir Anthony, I am glad of the op-
Porta of aſking your pardon, in preſence of this
amily, for any part of my behaviour whicl
708 may have taken. amiſs.
Sir Au rk. Madam, I am. not worthy: of fo great
a conceſſion; would to heaven chere had never been
any occafiongiven *
Mrs. Kxicnr. 1 with ſo too, Sir Anthony; but 1
fine my repentance comes too late.
Sir Ax Tk. Repentance] heavens, madam, ds you
condeſ eend to feel any compunction on the occaſion
Mrs. 1 22 I do indeed, Sir Anthony. a Dl
Sir IThen, madam, I apprehend it i n
be ſo eee or me to 0 ik wi 19 Bk reach of
75 dur
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9 THE DIS COVE UN
your influence; I think I cannot do a wiſer thing
than to ſtop my ears againſt your allurements.
Mrs. KNIGHT. Not till you have firſt heard me,
dear Sir Anthony.
Sir Ax TH. Dear Sir Anthony! - Ae de.) 1 had beſt
. depart, Lady Medway.
Lapy. No, pray ſtay, good Sir Anthoky.
Sir ANTH. There 1s a great peril in it, I aſſure
your ladyſhip.
CoLloxEL. I thought your love for my ſiſter, Sir
Anthony, would be a ſufficient guard againſt your re-
lapſing. |
Sir Ax TH. Her charms, Colonel, LE am ready to
acknowlege ſhould be an armour of proof; but
give me leave to tell you, if there be a vulnerable
part about me, this forcereſs (craving her pardon
for the expreſſion) will certainly find it out.
Mrs. KnrcaT. Sir Anthony, I confeſs I have been
to blame in trifling with a man of your worth; yet
Town I did not think you would have taken my lit-
tle capricious coyneſs for an abſolute refuſal of your
addreſſes.
Sir AnTH. Madam, adam, take care; 1 am but.
a man; though I hope not without fortitude to ſuſ-
' tain thoſe trials of my virtue and my patience..
Mrs. Knicut. *Tis 7, Sir Anthony, Who have
moſt need of fortitude- -but go, ungrateful as you
are,
Sir AnTz.. Do you heat? that, my Lord? Befote
heaven, there never was fuch an inchantreſs lince
the days of Armida.
Loxp. I am ſurpriſed, I confeſs, Sir Anthony.
Sir AnTay. Well you may, my Lord—ſhe is hung |
da aver it to you Tam. roote
round with ſpells
here; I have not power to ſtir, my Lord.
CoLox EL. Bleſs me, Sir Anthony, that's very
ſtrange.
Sir Ax TH. (Walks about ), T uſe the wit but me-
taphorically, Colonel; I have not abſotutely loſt the
uſe of my limbs, thank heaven,
{8 Lonp,
N
THE DISCOVERY. 91
Lonp. Then, Sir Anthony, you had better retire,
before it be too late.
Mrs. KxIOHT. Ay do, and carry that love, which
was my right, to Miſs Medway ; but let me tell you,
Sir, as a puniſhment for your inconſtancy, that her
heart is already given away to another. |
Sir AnTH. *Tis unlawful in you, madam, to ſlan-
der an innocent lady's reputation.
Mrs. Knicar. I ſpeak nothing but the truth, Sir
Anthony ; and what is more, I know your nephew
Branville is the man, and that ſhe is equally. beloved
by him.
Sir ANTH. My nephew Branville | oh heavens,
| madam, what do you tell me! my Lord! my lady
Medway ! may I believe what this incomprehenſible
fair one ſays ?
Lady. Sir Anthony, I muſt own that I believe
there is an affection between your nephew, and my
daughter.
Sir AnTH. I am thunder-ſtruck— petrified—con-
verted into ſtone. |
Lay. I think, Sir Anthony, there is nothing ſo
extraordinary in the circumſtance.
Sir AnTH. Madam, there is ſuch a 4 8 of im-
purity, in the bare imagination of a nuptial ſo cir-
cumſtanced, as has, I aſſure you, totally ſubverted my
whole ſyſtem.
Corox EL. I am ſorry, Sir Anthony, you were not
informed of this ſooner.
Sir AnTH. Sir, *tis not too late to prevent my
honour from being ſtained.
Lonxp. You muſt judge for yourſelf i in this caſe,
Sir Anthony.
Sir Axrf. My Lord, paſſionately as l admire the
lady, I would ſuffer martyrdom, rather than ſolem- X
nize a marriage under ſuch inauſpicious influence.
Coro ET. Sir Anthony, you are not preſſed to
do it.
Sir Ark. ( Apart to the St F Colonel, I am
not a man of a — ſpirit, but if ſuch a mea-
N 2 ſure
\
—
9% DUE DISCOVERY
fure is deemed neceſſar I am at your ſervice either
afoot or on horſeback you underſtand me.
CoLoNEL. There is no occaſion, I affure you, Sir.
Sir Ax TH. I am ready—that's all my alacrity i is
pretty notorious on thoſe occaſions.
Cor ox RL. For my part! approve of your punc-
| tilio intirely.
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Lord, 1 hope I am honoured with yours, in giving
up my pretenſions to the fair lady, your daughter.
Lok p. Sir, you have my free conſent.
Mrs. KN TOHT. Then, Sir Anthony, I am ſure you
ry
—
phew s happineſs, if my Lord is willing.
Lox, I have no objection to Mr. Branville, Ma-
dam, — but Sir Anthony knows my inability to give
my daughter a fortune equal to her rank—
=
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— . —— LA a
— — — — ———— II K
thony is too noble, to bs the ſordid confideration; of
money be a bar to the happineſs of two faithful
lovers—
Sir Ax TH. On the contrary, Madam, I am charm-
villes, by contemning riches, in compariſon of beauty.
your affection, for tho | know he doats on my filter,
her up.
Mrs. Knicar. Generous young man |!
| ſportive god takes in perſecuting us true lovers!
My Lord, if my nephew has your conſent, ] aſſure
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the lady of his heart.
1 your alliance muſt be doubly acceptable to me.
Mrs. KxIohT. And now, Sir Anthony, I hope you
_ Will return to your lawful ſovereign.
ö Sir
Sir AnTa. I am proud of your approbation my
have too much generoſity not to promote your ne-
Mrs. KxIchr. Oh, my Lord, I am ſure, Sir An-
ed that my nephew has ſuch an opportunity of ſhew-
ing the generoſity inherent 1 in the family of the Bran-
CoLONEL. Indeed, Sir Anthony, he deſerves all
yet hearing that you addreſſed her, he reſolved to give
Sir Ax TH. Ah ladies, ſee what delight the little
you I will render him in point of fortune, worthy of |
Lon p. Sir, after an inſtance of ſuch generoſity,
8D
*
b
2
THE DIS UV BREW 53
Sir AnTa. Arbitreſs of my aas ue, reaſſume
my happy bondage 1 8 aer CO
, „ [He Encels and takes Mrs. Kni gbthy s band.
Eule Sir Hauxr and Lady FLoTTER. gs
-"Six Han Rv. What the duce is all this ! my onels
in heroics at my widow's feet ! every thing's topſy- |
tuͤrvy I think—My Lord! Lady Medway | an ex-
planation quickly, for heaven's ſake ! Miſs Medway ©
gave us a hint of ſome ſtrange things that were go-
ing forward here What are you all about? |
Lady Flur. Dear Mrs. Knightly, I EINE TL die
with curioſity |!
Sir HARRY. My dear, that's a diſeaſe chak will
never kill you, for you have been wonderfully ſub-
ject to it ever ſince you and I were —_—
Lady FLuT. Prithee, Sir Harry,
keep pace with your wit, and then you will not talk
ſo faſt. —Tell me, do; Mrs. Knightly.
Sir HARRY. No, don't Mrs. Knightly My dear,
you really put me in mind of the cat in the fable, who
was metamorphoſed into a fine lady; but * the
firſt temptation—flap—egad ſhe was a cat again.
Lady Flur. And you put me in mind
Lor. Take care, my dear, take care.
[ Draws her aſide,
Lon D. Howell of a relapſe, lady Flutter, you are
now N if you are inclined to continue ſo.
[Aide to her.
Lady Flur. So, my Lord! who has metamor-
phoſed you, pray?
Lok p. Lady Medway.
Mrs. Kxichr. My dear Lady Flutter, you ſhall
| know all at another opportunity. For the preſent, I
am ſure it will give you pleaſure, to wiſh the Colo-
nel and my fiſter joy on their happy union, to which
my Lord has conſented. You are to congratulate
Miſs Medway too on her approaching * with
Sir
3
Mr, Branville. —
et your tongue
—
- ” *
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Fd
94 THE DISCOVER Y.
- 48 AnTa, And you are to felicitate ne, niece Flut-
ter, on being permitted the. tranſcendent happineſs,
of once more baſking in the ſunſhine of this lady” $
"favour. - |,
Lon b. And you are all to congratulate me, up-
on a double occaſion; firſt, on that of being perfectly
bleſſed in domeſtick joys; and next, chat of ferne
a thoroughly reformed man.
| Fo ¶ Ereunt omnes.
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EPILOGUE.
72 H AT ftrange odd maggots fill an author's pate =
A female court of j agice rare conceit!
Ladies, I give you joy of your new fations, ©
T think you've had à trial — of your patience.
Wi hat, five long acts, and not one pleaſant ally: *
But grave Sir Anthony's attempt to rally —
No ſprightly rendezvous, no pretty fellows,
No wife intriguing, nor no huſband jealous !
If to ſuch innovations you ſubnut, gh
And ſwallow tame morality for wit ,
If fuch dull rules you let a woman teach,
Her next attempt, Perhaps, Will Be to—bpreach.
1 told her (for it * ne 7 the heart )
Madam excuſe ne —7 dot like my part—
Jus out of nature never draton from life,
Who ever heard of fuch | a paſſive wiſe ?
To bear ſo much. — lis not in fleſh and blood —
Such females might have liv'd before the flood.
But now the character <vill ſeem ſo flat,
Give me threats, tears, hyſterics, and all that— -
If this don't work upon my Lord, ] hope
You'll jo contrive the plot—T may elope.
Take my advice, I think I know the town,
Without fuch aids your piece will ſcarce go down.
Hold, friend, ſbe cy d I think Ive hit the way
To reconcile both ſexes to the play;
For, while the prologue bids our own be ſou reign,
The. ſcenes inſtruct the other bozo to govern.
A
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